Overview

• WhatsApp beta version 2.25.21.11 is testing Status Ads and Promoted Channels with select Android users
• In-app Status Ads mimic Instagram Stories by inserting sponsored clips between personal status updates, offering clear labels and advertiser-blocking options
• Promoted Channels give business and creator accounts premium placement in WhatsApp’s public channels directory, marked as sponsored for visibility
• Version 2.25.21.12 launches Quick Recap, an AI-powered tool that privately generates summaries of unread chats
• The beta trials are part of Meta’s wider effort to diversify WhatsApp’s revenue beyond its ad-free heritage, anticipating regulatory approval before a full rollout