Archive · 20 Jun 2025
WhatsApp Rolls Out Ads Globally, EU Delay Due to Privacy
WhatsApp, a popular messaging app, is starting to show ads to most users around the world.
These ads will appear in the Updates section, not in your chats.
However, people in Europe won't see these ads for a while due to privacy rules.
The company hopes to make more money by showing these ads and is also adding ways for channels to charge for content and get promoted.
The ads will use some information like your location to show you things you might like, but they won't look at your private messages.
This change is a big step for WhatsApp, which used to be ad-free.
WhatsApp begins global rollout of ads, excluding the EU due to regulatory delays.
Ads will appear in the Updates tab, alongside status updates from contacts.
Meta is introducing channel subscriptions and promoted channels as part of its monetization strategy.
The EU will not see ads until at least 2026 due to GDPR compliance concerns.
Ads will be personalized outside the EU based on limited user data, without accessing private chats.
- Who
- Meta (WhatsApp's parent company) is implementing the changes.
- What
- WhatsApp is rolling out advertisements globally.
- When
- The rollout began on June 16, with an exception for the EU.
- Where
- Globally, excluding the European Union.
- Why
- To generate revenue and expand monetization strategies.
- App
- Parent Company
- Meta
- Ad Placement
- Updates tab (Status)
- EU Delay
- Until at least 2026
- Daily Users
- 1.5 billion
- Ad Revenue (Meta - last year)
- $160 billion