WhatsApp, long known for its ad-free messaging, is about to break with tradition and introduce advertisements for the first time. WhatsApp, owned by Meta, announced that ads will soon appear in the app's Updates section, which is used by around 1.5 billion people daily, the New York Times reports. WhatsApp says it will collect limited user data—such as location and device language—to target these ads, but insists that message content and chat lists will remain off-limits and end-to-end encrypted.
The move marks a significant shift from WhatsApp's original philosophy. Founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton, who left the company seven years ago, had built WhatsApp as a simple, private communication tool. When they created WhatsApp in 2009, they pledged to keep it free from ads, the AP reports. Since Meta's acquisition in 2014, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has focused on expanding WhatsApp's integration with other Meta products and trying to generate revenue from the platform.
WhatsApp's leadership emphasized that private chats and calls will not be affected by the new ads, and the company has no plans to place ads inside personal messages. Still, analysts note that the introduction of advertising could challenge WhatsApp's reputation for privacy, especially as users recall previous controversies over data sharing. Alongside ads, WhatsApp is rolling out paid monthly subscriptions for content creators and will allow users and businesses to promote their channels. The changes were unveiled at the Cannes Lions advertising conference, reflecting Meta's broader push for new revenue sources across its platforms. (This content was created with the help of AI. Read our AI policy.)
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