Why Do Ads Suddenly Appear in WhatsApp Status?

Some users may be quite surprised when viewing status updates on the WhatsApp application. This is because WhatsApp (WA) status does not only display content from users, but sometimes includes ads interspersed within it. Therefore, while scrolling and watching WA status, ads can suddenly appear. The format of these ads appearing between WA status content is similar to ads in Facebook Stories and Instagram Stories. So, how can ads appear in WA status? The idea of placing ads in the WhatsApp application once faced opposition from its founders. In fact, in 2020, Meta cancelled plans to launch in-app ads. However, WhatsApp head Will Cathcart confirmed in 2023 that the company was still working on implementing ads on its platform. Then, last year, WhatsApp finally announced the presence of ads in WA status. All this time, ads have been known as Meta’s largest revenue source (parent of WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Threads). Last year, Meta generated more than $160 billion in advertising revenue alone. Displaying ads in WhatsApp status has raised controversy over user privacy. However, Meta claims that this ad display will not disrupt user privacy. Communication on the WhatsApp platform is still protected by end-to-end encryption, a technology that ensures only the sender and recipient can read the sent messages. “Privacy is our main foundation. All these ad and promotion interactions remain in a separate space and will not interfere with the messaging experience,” said Nikila Srinivasan, in a recent virtual media roundtable session with KompasTekno. Separately, in a post on its official blog, WhatsApp also promised “never to sell or share users’ phone numbers with advertisers”. Although it does not access private message content, WhatsApp still uses certain information to tailor the ads displayed in WA status. Srinivasan detailed that the information used includes: If users link WhatsApp with other Meta accounts (such as Instagram or Facebook) through the Meta Accounts Center feature, preferences from those other platforms can also be used for ad targeting. However, WhatsApp emphasises that all these processes remain under user control and can be changed at any time. Ads in WA Status are similar to those appearing in Instagram Stories. This feature is intended for businesses (companies, brands, creators) that want to reach new customers through WhatsApp.