Tech Desk 
Jun 16, 2025
WhatsApp has officially announced a suite of new features for the Updates tab, which is home to Channels and Status. “We’ve worked over the last two years to make this tab the place for you,” the platform stated.
Meta-owned instant messaging platform revealed on Monday, June 16, 2025, that the new features will be especially beneficial for businesses that have WhatsApp Channels as they can now pay to promote their ads in the Updates section to gain more followers.
WhatsApp launches new features for the Updates tab.
- Channel subscriptions: You’ll be able to support your favourite channel by subscribing to receive exclusive updates for a monthly fee.
- Promoted Channels: We’ll help you discover new channels that might be interesting to you when you’re looking through the directory. For the first time, admins have a way to increase their Channel's visibility.
- Ads in Status: You’ll be able to find a new business and easily start a conversation with them about a product or service they’re promoting in Status.
To note, these new features will appear only on the Updates tab, away from your chats. This means if you only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and loved ones there is no change to your experience, as per the platform.
These features are developed in the most private way possible. “Your messages, calls, and statuses remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning no one (not even us) can see or hear them,” WhatsApp stated.
In a blog post, WhatsApp added, “To show ads in Status or Channels you might care about, we'll use limited info like your country or city, language, the Channels you’re following, and how you interact with the ads you see.”
For people who have chosen to add WhatsApp to the Accounts Center, we'll also use your ad preferences and info from across your Meta accounts.
“We will never sell or share your phone number to advertisers. Your messages, calls and groups you are in will not be used to determine the ads you may see.”
