WhatsApp Introduces Ads in Statuses and Channels for Android#
July 24, 2025
WhatsApp expands advertising opportunities by adding sponsored content directly to the Updates tab!
WhatsApp is introducing status ads and promoted channels in its latest Android beta, offering businesses new ways to reach their audience.
Contents#
Status Ads#
Status Ads offer a new way for businesses to share short, engaging content in the Status section. These ads appear seamlessly between regular status updates, blending in with the familiar format but clearly labeled as sponsored content.
How it works#
Users can view these ads just like regular statuses, swiping forward or backward as they wish.
Ads can be easily skipped with a quick swipe in under a second.
If an advertiser becomes intrusive, users can block them to prevent their ads from appearing again.
Promoted Channels#
Promoted Channels are designed to increase the visibility of public channels. When a channel is promoted, it is highlighted in the channel directory, helping it reach a wider audience of potential subscribers.
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Users can choose to promote their new channel on WhatsApp so that other people browsing the directory will see it in search results.
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This system allows creators, brands, and organizations to quickly gain traction without relying solely on organic discovery.
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Promoted channels also display a small label to let users know they are seeing a sponsored post.
Transparent Integration and Control#
Both status ads and promoted channels are carefully integrated into the News tab, keeping them separate from personal chats, group conversations, communities, and calls.
- A banner in the News tab invites users to learn more about how status and channel ads work.
- When clicking on the banner, users are taken to an explanation of how the ads are displayed, what data is used, and how they can manage their preferences. This ensures that users are not caught off guard by the appearance of sponsored content.
In Development - Ad Activity Report and Advanced Control#
To give users even more control, WhatsApp is introducing an Activity Report feature specifically focused on advertising. With this feature, users can view a history of all the ads they have seen in statuses and channels over a selected period of time.
- Each ad is listed with the date it was shown and the advertiser name, making it easier for users to remember which ads they have interacted with.
- If a user decides they no longer want to see ads from a particular advertiser, they can block that advertiser directly from the report or status interface.
- Users can always restore visibility of previously blocked advertisers if they change their mind later.
Please note that this feature is still in development and will be announced when it will be released.
Conclusion#
WhatsApp continues to evolve, offering businesses new opportunities for promotion, and users - tools to control their advertising experience. Advertising in statuses and promoted channels are new horizons for businesses, which, thanks to the transparency and control functions, should not cause negativity among users.
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