Overview

• WhatsApp has started showing sponsored status stories and promoted Channels in its Updates tab as part of a global ad rollout.
• Meta says the new ad system uses only select signals—such as city, language and followed channels—and does not access private chats or call data.
• The Irish Data Protection Commission and other EU regulators have delayed the introduction of ads in Europe until 2026 to examine cross-platform data sharing under GDPR.
• Businesses can buy ad placements and offer paid subscriptions through Updates, with WhatsApp taking a minimum 10% commission on transactions.
• Privacy experts and marketers warn that inserting ads into a traditionally private messaging space could undermine user trust and accelerate ad fatigue.