WhatsApp to Start Showing Ads in Nigeria: What You Need to Know

WhatsApp, the messaging app that has become a daily necessity for millions of Nigerians, is about to introduce advertisements for the very first time. This major update was announced by Meta Platforms, the company that owns WhatsApp, as part of a new plan to make more money from the billions of people who use the app every day.

The ads will only appear in the Updates tab, which is already used by as many as 1.5 billion people worldwide—including a huge number of Nigerians—but they will not be shown in personal chats or group messages.

“The personal messaging experience on WhatsApp isn’t changing, and personal messages, calls and statuses are end-to-end encrypted and cannot be used to show ads,” WhatsApp said in an official statement.

This means that for most Nigerians who use WhatsApp mainly to chat with friends and family, nothing will change in their daily experience.

Meta, which bought WhatsApp in 2014, has been looking for new ways to monetize the app ever since the original founders, Jan Koum and Brian Acton, left the company.

These founders had promised that WhatsApp would always remain free of ads, but after Meta took over, things started to change.

The introduction of ads to the Updates tab is the biggest and most visible step Meta has taken so far to make money from WhatsApp’s popularity.

“We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal conversations remain private and secure,” WhatsApp emphasized.

The company also made it clear that they will not use the content of your personal messages, calls, or groups to target ads. Instead, ads will be based on information like your age, location, language, the channels you follow, and how you interact with ads already shown in the app.

In addition to showing ads, WhatsApp is also launching new features to help businesses and creators make money. Channel owners will now be able to charge users a monthly fee for exclusive updates, and business owners can pay to promote their channels so that more people can see them.

These changes are designed to help small businesses and content creators in Nigeria and around the world grow their audiences and increase their earnings through the platform.

“We believe these new features will give businesses and creators more opportunities to connect with their audiences and build their brands,” WhatsApp said.

For Nigerians, this means that the WhatsApp experience will start to look a little different, especially for those who use the Updates tab to follow news, brands, or creators.

However, the vast majority of users who only use WhatsApp for personal chats and group messages will not notice any difference. “Your private conversations will remain safe, secure, and free from ads,” WhatsApp assured users.

The introduction of ads is part of a bigger trend at Meta, where advertising already makes up most of the company’s revenue.

In 2025, Meta reported total revenue of $164.5 billion, with $160.6 billion coming from advertising. By bringing ads to WhatsApp’s Updates tab, Meta is hoping to make even more money and continue growing its business.

WhatsApp’s decision to introduce ads is one of the biggest changes the platform has seen since it was launched in 2009.

While some users may be unhappy about seeing ads, the company has tried to balance commercial interests with user trust by keeping ads out of personal chats and not using private conversations for ad targeting.

“We are always looking for ways to improve our services and support businesses, but we will never compromise on your privacy or security,” WhatsApp said.

For Nigerian users, this means that while they may start to see more promotional content in the Updates tab, their private conversations will stay protected and free from advertising.

The overall impact of this change will depend on how users interact with the Updates tab and whether they choose to subscribe to paid channels or engage with promoted content. Regardless, the introduction of ads marks a new chapter for WhatsApp and its relationship with its users around the world.

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