WhatsApp to introduce ads in Status and promote channels in latest Beta update

New Delhi: WhatsApp is taking its first major step towards monetization, with Meta testing two new advertising features in the platform’s latest Android beta update (version 2.25.21.11). The update introduces ‘Status Ads’ and ‘Promoted Channels’, now available to selected beta users, according to WABetaInfo.

The new Status Ads will allow business accounts to display sponsored content in users' Status feeds, similar to how ads appear on Instagram Stories. These ads will be clearly labelled as “sponsored” and will be shown between updates from contacts, making them easy to distinguish from personal posts.

Users will also be able to block specific advertisers, ensuring that ads from them no longer appear.

The second feature, Promoted Channels, aims to boost the visibility of public channels within WhatsApp’s channel directory. Sponsored channels will appear higher in search results, helping brands, creators, and organizations grow their audience more effectively. Like Status Ads, these will also be marked as “sponsored”.

Meta clarified that all ads will appear only in public spaces such as Status and Channels, and not in private conversations, assuring users that their personal messages will remain ad-free.

The new features indicate WhatsApp’s gradual entry into advertising and creator monetization, already a common model on platforms like Instagram and YouTube.

In a previous beta release (version 2.25.19.15), WhatsApp had also begun testing ad activity reports. This feature allows users to download detailed records of the ads they were shown, including information on advertisers and the time of display, adding a layer of transparency to the platform’s advertising practices.