WhatsApp Rolls Out Status Ads and Promoted Channels in Beta for Select Android Users
“WhatsApp beta v2.25.21.11 introduces Status Ads and Promoted Channels in the Updates tab for select Android users. Features include “Sponsored” labels, ad activity reports, user controls, and privacy protections.”
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WhatsApp has begun introducing Status Ads and Promoted Channels in its Android beta (v2.25.21.11), currently available only to select testers. These ads will appear in the Updates tab—spanning Status updates and Channels—not within private chats or calls.
Status Ads function much like Instagram Story ads: branded content appears between friends' updates, clearly labeled “Sponsored,” and users can block advertisers if they choose.
Similarly, Promoted Channels allow businesses and creators to pay for greater visibility in the Channels directory. These listings also carry a “Sponsored” label to distinguish them from organic content.
A new Ad Activity Report feature provides transparency—showing which ads you’ve seen, from which advertisers, and when. Users can download this report and manage ad preferences.
WhatsApp insists user privacy remains intact: personal messages, calls, group chats, and statuses remain end-to-end encrypted, and ads are limited to the Updates tab only. WhatsApp’s ad targeting is based on non-sensitive data—like location, language, followed channels, and engagement—not private content.
Meta’s move marks WhatsApp’s first step into in-app advertising—a strategy aligned with its broader monetization goals on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. While advertisers and creators stand to benefit, some users are wary, and privacy advocates have expressed concern that ads—even if well-contained—could erode WhatsApp's reputation for simplicity and confidentiality.
