WhatsApp Status Ads Start Appearing for More Users

After announcing the plan in June 2025, WhatsApp appears to have begun a wider rollout of ads inside Status. We recently spotted promotional posts appearing between Status updates from our contacts, similar to Instagram Stories ads. It’s still unclear whether this marks a full global launch or an expanded test phase.

WhatsApp ads appear between regular status updates

Ads on WhatsApp have the same format as regular status updates from your contacts, away from your personal chats. Each ad features a “Send Message” button that lets you instantly start a chat with the business behind the ad. In most cases, this opens an automated chatbot offering preset options to help you learn more about the product or service being promoted.

Users can also tap the three-dot menu (More options) to view the advertiser’s profile, hide or report the ad, or read more about how ads work on WhatsApp. The company says it is using a limited set of signals to determine which ads to show. These include your country or city, your language setting, the Channels you follow, and how you interact with ads on WhatsApp.

For users who have linked WhatsApp to Meta’s Accounts Center, the platform may also use your ad preferences and additional information from your other Meta services, including Facebook and Instagram. WhatsApp emphasizes that it is not expanding data collection beyond these factors. The company also adds that it doesn’t share your phone number or messages with third parties to show ads.

“Your personal messages, calls, and groups will not be used to determine the ads you may see,” WhatsApp says. Since the platform uses end-to-end encryption, Meta cannot read personal messages, even for advertising purposes. If you use the app, watch out for ads in the Status section in the coming weeks.