Overview
- Sponsored posts now appear in the Updates/Status tab on iOS and Android, interleaved after several regular status updates and clearly labeled as advertising.
- WhatsApp says ads stay out of private chats and targeting relies on limited signals such as language, country and ad interactions, preserving message encryption.
- Users can swipe past Status ads, hide individual placements through the three‑dot menu and block specific advertisers; promoted Channels are labeled and prioritized in the directory.
- The activation is rolling out gradually, so some users will begin seeing the new formats this week as the feature reaches their devices.
- In the EU, an ad‑free version will be available by subscription, with reported pricing around €3 per month via Meta and about €4 via Apple App Store or Google Play, as early user feedback trends negative.