WhatsApp announces its biggest-ever change: Ads coming to the app

(Web Desk): WhatsApp, one of the most popular instant messaging applications globally, has long been appreciated by users for being ad-free. However, that is set to change, as users will soon begin seeing ads on the platform.

According to a report by the BBC, WhatsApp's parent company Meta has confirmed that advertisements will soon be shown within the app. The company clarified that despite the introduction of ads, user privacy will remain intact, and there will be no changes to the security or features of users' inbox messages.

Ads will be displayed in the Status or Stories section of WhatsApp, which will not compromise the app’s end-to-end encryption.

This marks a major shift for WhatsApp, which has remained free of ads for the past 15 years since its launch in 2009. Meta acquired WhatsApp in 2014 and, at the time, committed to keeping the app ad-free. However, with this policy shift, ads will now be part of the experience.

Following the announcement, users will start seeing ads while viewing friends’ statuses or stories — similar to how ads appear on YouTube or Facebook videos.

Additionally, WhatsApp plans to monetize channels and accounts, allowing users to earn money through ads — much like monetization systems on YouTube and other platforms.

WhatsApp currently has over 1.5 billion active users worldwide who use the app on a daily basis.