WhatsApp won’t show ads in its app, at least for now. The company had previously promised not to display ads, but recently broke that promise. It was revealed that ads would be coming to some parts of the messaging app, shocking millions of users. However, it’s now known that these ads won’t be available to everyone, at least not yet.
No Ads in Europe, For Now
The plan to integrate ads into WhatsApp has hit a roadblock in Europe. According to Des Hogan, head of the Irish Data Protection Commission, the ads won’t be launched in the EU until 2026. Europe’s data policies have forced Meta to suspend the plan. This means European users can continue to use WhatsApp without ads for now. Hogan said the commission was informed by WhatsApp and will discuss the ad model with other authorities to address data protection concerns.
Regulators have raised concerns about privacy and data handling after WhatsApp announced its plans to integrate ads. Meta, which already faces a fine for violating Europe’s Digital Markets Act, uses personal info to display targeted ads. Authorities fear the company might use data from linked Facebook and Instagram accounts to personalize WhatsApp ads.
What to Expect from WhatsApp Ads
The ads on WhatsApp won’t be as intrusive as some might think. They won’t appear in individual or group chats. Instead, they’ll show up in Channels and the Status tab, similar to Instagram Stories. An ad will appear after a few status updates from friends. WhatsApp says it will use various methods to gather data, including location, account info, and how users interact with ads. The company claims it will keep these features private and won’t sell or share phone numbers with advertisers. Personal messages, calls, and group chats won’t be used to determine which ads users see.