WhatsApp is getting ads and you can’t do anything about it

WhatsApp is getting an update, but it’s not one that is going to excite many. Instead of a feature drop, WhatsApp is getting advertisements. And no, there will be no way to switch it off.

Ads on WhatsApp

For now, WhatsApp ads will only be restricted to the Updates Tab. Here users update their status, and access channels or groups. These ads will look similar to how we see ads in Instagram Stories. You can tap through various Status as usual, while going through the ads.

Parent company Meta has revealed that WhatsApp will leverage user information like their country code, age, and language settings to decide what ads a user sees.

ALSO READ: WhatsApp to end support for older phones soon

WhatsApp channels too are getting a monetisation boost, with creators getting an option to offer subscriptions for exclusive content access.

Parent company Meta, in its announcement, has reiterated that these ads will only be restricted to this tab and will not be seen on personal chats and calls. In other words, ads won’t “interrupt personal chats”, and they will continue to be protected by end-to-end encryption.

Ads in Meta apps

WhatsApp is the latest in Meta’s app ecosystem to get ads. Facebook, Instagram, and Reels have had them for ages.