WhatsApp has announced it has now monetized WhatsApp.
The announcement was made on Monday.
WhatsApp also added that users will begin seeing advertisements within the app.
This development comes as parent company, Meta, seeks new ways to generate revenue from the messaging service’s vast user base.
Nikila Srinivasan, Vice President for product management at Meta, announced this to reporters.
According to Meta, the ads will appear in the Updates tab, which is accessed by up to 1.5 billion people daily.
“No advertisements will appear within users’ personal chats. The personal messaging experience on WhatsApp isn’t changing, and personal messages, calls, and statuses are end-to-end encrypted and cannot be used to show ads,” the company stated in a blog post.
This marks a significant shift from the company’s original mission. WhatsApp noted that ads will be targeted using basic data such as a user’s age, language, location, followed channels, and engagement with previous ads.
The company emphasised that personal messages, calls, and group memberships will not be used to target advertising.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to introduce three new monetisation tools on WhatsApp. Besides in-app ads, Channels can now charge monthly subscription fees for exclusive content.
Additionally, business owners will have the option to promote their channels to reach new audiences. Meta’s business is heavily reliant on advertising, with the company generating $164.5 billion in revenue in 2025—$160.6 billion of which came from ads.
