Meta has introduced a series of new monetisation tools on WhatsApp designed to help creators, businesses, and organisations grow their audience and generate revenue — all through the app’s Updates tab.
In a statement released on Monday, the tech giant announced three major features: Channel Subscriptions, Promoted Channels, and Adverts in Status. These additions are part of WhatsApp’s ongoing efforts to support commercial activity without disrupting the private messaging experience.
“For years, we’ve explored ways to support businesses on WhatsApp without intruding on personal chats. We believe the Updates tab is the ideal space for this,” Meta said.
Key Features Explained
- Channel Subscriptions: This feature allows users to pay a monthly fee for exclusive content and updates from their favourite channels — including news organisations, influencers, and sports teams.
- Promoted Channels: WhatsApp will now offer a paid promotional tool that lets creators and businesses boost their channel visibility. Recommendations will be tailored to user interests to help channels reach the right audience.
- Adverts in Status: Much like Instagram Stories, WhatsApp users will begin to see targeted advertisements within the Status section, providing businesses a new way to connect with potential customers.
Privacy Still a Priority
Meta emphasised that all personal chats, calls, and group messages will remain protected by end-to-end encryption. When showing ads, only limited data such as location (country or city), language, followed channels, and user engagement will be used.
“For users who link WhatsApp to Meta’s Accounts Centre, we may also use preferences and data from across their Meta apps. However, your phone number will never be shared or sold to advertisers,” Meta assured.
The new features will be rolled out gradually in the coming months. Channel admins and businesses looking to explore these tools can find more details via official WhatsApp Business resources.
