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WhatsApp ads will appear worldwide except European Union stating privacy concerns till 2026. It is the first time in the history of WhatsApp this is happening. We are excited to share this piece of news and tell you why this is the beginning of a new era for brands, marketers, and businesses across globe.

It’s finally here. WhatsApp ads will only be shown in the “Updates” section of the app in Status and Channels. What we want to stress here is, your personal chat and calls are still safe, and ads will not be shown in any of your private chats. WhatsApp does not allow ads in personal chats and calls. You will find this not happening with WhatsApp.

WhatsApp is not just another app, it’s a lifeline.

With over 500 million active users only in India, WhatsApp is the pulse of daily lives.

The “Updates” tab is used by 1.5 billion people worldwide every day. What you are reading is that the 500 million active WhatsApp users in India were not available for brands and advertisers.

Advertisers have been wondering how WhatsApp would monetize the platform? Facebook and Instagram, other platforms by Meta, generated over $160 billion in ad revenues in 2024. The Facebook and Instagram platforms are a result of the huge advertisement ecosystem they have created over time. WhatsApp was free from ads, but now it’s changing.

Where and how will ads be shown on WhatsApp?

1. Ads in Status – These will show in between the sponsored updates that you can see on the Status section. The status is where people post photos, videos, and text that disappears after 24 hours. It’s a very high-engagement area, and people spend a lot of time on it.
2. Promoted Channels – Brands and businesses can now pay to promote their Channels. The Channel is a one-to-many broadcast feature on WhatsApp. People can create a channel and send unlimited updates to their followers. People can now pay to promote their channels on WhatsApp, and people can now pay to subscribe to their favorite channels.
3. Channel Subscription – Users can now subscribe to their favorite channels and pay a monthly subscription fee for exclusive content from the creator. This opens a new form of monetization for creators and businesses. These features will only be in the Updates section of the app. All your personal messages, calls, and private statuses will be secured with end-to-end encryption. Ads won’t target you based on your personal messages and calls. In short, these features will not impact personal conversations and chats.

Why should I care about this?

1. Unmatched Reach – With over 500 million users in India, WhatsApp’s reach in India is unmatched. This is where your customers are spending most of their time. If you are looking to reach your customers where they are spending most of their time, now is your chance.
2. High engagement – Status and channels are two very popular features on WhatsApp. Over 2 billion people use status daily. If your ads are shown in this section, you will be able to reach people in a discovery mindset, and they are more likely to see and engage with your brand messages.
3. Privacy-first approach – Unlike other social media platforms, WhatsApp has been strict about keeping personal messages and chats away from any form of advertising. Since this is the first time that WhatsApp is allowing ads, those who jump in early will get the first mover advantage. This means more options for creativity, less competition, and better rates.

What are the numbers to show why this matters?

• 5 billion people use the Updates tab daily worldwide.
• 3 billion monthly active users worldwide approx (as early on 2025)
• WhatsApp presence in 180 countries and supports 60 languages.
• Over 100 billion messages are sent on WhatsApp daily.
• Meta’s platforms generated over $160 billion in ad revenue in 2024, but WhatsApp is only starting to monetize the app.

If you are a business owner, entrepreneur, or marketer, this is your call to action. Now is the time to take action. What’s new on WhatsApp is not just a new channel, it’s a new era. You will be able to reach your customers in a place they trust, and your content will feel native and not annoying. Whether you want to drive brand awareness, generate sales, or build a community, WhatsApp ads can help you reach the target audience.

We as an agency thrive on innovation and results. We are already preparing to test, optimize, and deliver new ways of advertising on WhatsApp. We are working on exploring creative formats, and planning a customized strategy based on your business needs.

We are not only watching the trends, we are creating them. We want to be a part of this opportunity and help brands like yours. I want to explore this new channel, play with new ad formats, and explore new ways of WhatsApp marketing.

Ready for a talk? We are here to plan your campaigns that will stand out in this new era of WhatsApp ads. We will test these new features together and create the best way to advertise your business.

About Onedot Media

We’re a performance-focused digital marketing agency which supports businesses to take their marketing to a different level & with love for innovation. From search to social, and now WhatsApp, we make brands grow, connect, and lead in the digital world. Get in touch to discover more about WhatsApp ads and how we can make your business flourish.

The WhatsApp ad revolution is here. Join the movement? Get in touch today, let’s make history together.