WhatsApp Introduces New Ways to Earn Money
1. Ads Now Showing in the Updates Tab
WhatsApp has officially started displaying ads—but only in the “Updates” section, which includes Status updates and Channels. These ads will not appear in personal or group chats.
- Launch Date: Ads started appearing on June 16, 2025.
- User Reach: The Updates tab is used by about 1.5 billion people every day, out of WhatsApp’s 3 billion total users.
- Privacy Respect: The ads are shown based on general information such as your location, language, and which Channels you follow—not your private messages.
2. Paid Subscriptions for Channels
WhatsApp has introduced a new feature where Channel owners can now charge users for exclusive content.
- This subscription system helps influencers, news pages, celebrities, and others offer special content to their followers.
- Currently, WhatsApp is not taking any commission, but Meta (WhatsApp’s parent company) plans to charge a 10% fee in the future.
3. Promoted Channels – Boosting Visibility
A new paid feature also allows Channel creators to promote their Channels. This means:
- Their Channels can appear higher in the search and discovery section of WhatsApp.
- It helps new creators reach a wider audience just like ads on Facebook or Instagram.
Why Is WhatsApp Doing This?
Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, is planning to turn the app into more than just a messaging tool. Their goal is to make WhatsApp similar to China’s WeChat — an all-in-one app for chatting, shopping, getting news, and watching content.
With such a massive user base, even a small amount of income per user can bring in billions of dollars in revenue.
Your Privacy Is Still Protected
Even with these new features, WhatsApp assures that your private chats are still completely safe. Here’s what they’re doing to protect users:
- Chats and Calls Are Encrypted: Your personal and group messages remain end-to-end encrypted, which means even WhatsApp can’t read them.
- No Use of Private Messages for Ads: Ads are based on public actions like the Channels you follow, not your messages or call history.
- No Phone Number Sharing: Your phone number will not be shared with advertisers.
