Meta has officially rolled out new monetization tools for WhatsApp, introducing three key features—Channel Subscriptions, Promoted Channels and Ads in Status—within the platform’s Updates tab.
The new offerings are designed to support businesses, content creators, and organizations, while maintaining user privacy and ensuring that personal conversations remain unaffected.
According to Meta, the Updates tab, which houses both Channels and Status, currently records over 1.5 billion users per day globally. The newly introduced features are intended to strengthen WhatsApp’s position as a business-friendly platform by creating opportunities for monetization without disrupting the core messaging experience.
Channel Subscriptions for Exclusive Content
With the rollout of Channel Subscriptions, users can now support their preferred channels—such as news organizations, creators, or brands—by subscribing for a monthly fee. This provides admins with a new revenue stream and a means to offer exclusive updates to their audiences.
The feature is designed to help creators and organizations grow sustainable engagement with their followers.
Promoted Channels for Enhanced Visibility
Meta is also launching Promoted Channels to improve discoverability for creators and businesses. Users browsing the directory will now see personalized recommendations for channels they might find relevant or engaging. This marks the first time that channel admins have access to tools that can directly boost visibility on WhatsApp.
Ads in Status for Business Promotion
Another significant development is the integration of ads into the Status feature. Businesses can now place promotional content in Status, enabling users to discover new products or services and initiate direct conversations with brands. Meta clarified that all advertisements will remain confined to the Updates tab, leaving personal chats, calls, and group messages untouched.
Emphasis on Privacy
Meta has emphasized that these monetization tools were built with privacy in mind. All personal messages, calls, and statuses remain end-to-end encrypted, and advertisers will not have access to users’ phone numbers or chat content. Ad targeting will be based on limited user information such as city, language, and channel interactions. Users who have opted to integrate WhatsApp with Meta’s Accounts Center will receive further personalization based on broader account activity.
The company reiterated that it will not sell or share users’ phone numbers with advertisers and that all targeting mechanisms will comply with WhatsApp’s strict privacy framework.
Gradual Rollout Planned
Meta confirmed that the new features will be rolled out gradually over the coming months. Businesses and channel administrators looking to leverage these tools can now begin preparations by accessing updated information on WhatsApp’s business portal.
The introduction of these monetization tools aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to commercialize WhatsApp, which remains one of the most-used messaging applications globally. The move also provides Meta with an additional revenue channel amid growing investor focus on diversification beyond its core advertising business.
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