WhatsApp is integrating status updates directly into the main chat view, a move signaling Meta’s intent to monetize the messaging platform more aggressively. The change, first spotted in a test version for Android smartphones by Wabetainfo, aims to increase visibility of the feature, which currently functions similarly to “Stories” on Instagram and Facebook.
The updated interface introduces a modern bar at the top of the chat list, reminiscent of Instagram’s status row. This bar displays status updates from frequently contacted users in colorful bubbles, allowing for direct selection. Scrolling further down the chat list reveals another bar displaying status bubbles, navigable with a swipe. Contacts who have been excluded from viewing a user’s status will not have their updates appear in this new view.
While the ability to view statuses directly from within a chat isn’t new – tapping a contact’s name currently reveals a status bubble – the new interface offers a centralized location for all updates, eliminating the need to scroll through contacts or navigate to a separate tab. This shift is widely interpreted as a strategy to boost engagement with the status feature, which remains relatively underutilized compared to direct messaging.
Crucially, WhatsApp currently displays advertisements within the status feed, interspersed between updates from individual users, mirroring the advertising model employed by Instagram Stories. Increasing the visibility and usage of statuses provides Meta with more opportunities to serve advertisements to its vast user base. The new layout could build it more difficult to avoid these ads.
This move represents a broader effort by Meta to generate revenue from WhatsApp, twelve years after its acquisition. Previous attempts to monetize the platform, such as data sharing with Facebook, have faced regulatory hurdles, particularly in Europe. The European Union has restricted Meta from leveraging WhatsApp user data to personalize advertising on its other platforms without explicit user consent.
The rollout of the new status interface is currently in the testing phase and a definitive timeline for its wider release remains unclear. Features initially tested often eventually appear in the official app version. WhatsApp is also testing a premium, ad-free subscription option for €3.99 per month, offering users a way to bypass the advertisements entirely.
The changes have sparked criticism from some users who valued WhatsApp’s simplicity and lack of advertising. The platform has historically been favored by parents seeking a communication channel for their children that avoids the perceived pitfalls of platforms like Instagram and TikTok. However, with over three billion users, Meta faces increasing pressure to monetize its messaging service.
