Multinational tech company, Meta Platform, Inc., the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and several tech ventures, has announced three powerful new features that are coming to the Updates tab, which is the section where users view Status updates and follow Channels.
These features are designed to help creators, public figures, and businesses earn money, grow their audience, and connect better with other users, much like what platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) already offer.
One of the headline features is Channel Subscriptions. With this, WhatsApp users can now pay a small monthly fee to subscribe to exclusive content from their favorite creators, media pages, or public figures. This means fans get access to updates that are not available to everyone, similar to TikTok’s paid subscriber content or Twitter’s Super Follows – a feature that allows creators to monetize their content by offering exclusive content to paying subscribers
Another big update is Promoted Channels. For the first time, WhatsApp will suggest Channels to users based on their interests. This opens the door for small businesses, influencers, and brands to gain more visibility and grow their followers using a paid promotion tool, very similar to promoted posts on Instagram or boosted tweets on X. It helps new voices get discovered and brings more variety to the Updates tab.
Then comes Ads in Status — WhatsApp’s answer to Instagram Stories ads. Businesses will be able to place short, targeted video or image ads in between user Statuses. These ads won’t just promote products or services; users will be able to tap the ad and chat directly with the business, making WhatsApp even more commerce-friendly and interactive.
Altogether, these new features represent a major shift in WhatsApp’s strategy. It’s no longer just a free chat app — it’s now being positioned as a platform where creators and businesses can thrive, just like they do on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube. For users, this means more value, more choices, and richer content experiences.
