Meta expands WhatsApp Status ad options

Meta is giving advertisers more ways to reach WhatsApp users by combining click-to-message ads with Status placements, offering a new path to spark conversations with potential customers.

• Ads will now appear in WhatsApp’s Updates tab (home to Status and Channels) and, when tapped, send users directly into a business chat.
• The expansion builds on Meta’s June launch of Status ads, which run between full-screen updates from friends.

Why we care. Meta is turning WhatsApp into a stronger ad channel, blending full-screen Status placements with click-to-message ads that drive users directly into chats. With 100 million U.S. users and early global expansion, the platform offers brands an effective way to boost engagement as direct interactions outperform traditional ads.

The details. The new format allows brands to place ads on Facebook or Instagram that click through to WhatsApp Status, creating a larger, full-screen promo with a chat CTA.

• Availability is limited to certain regions for now.

Between the lines. WhatsApp is increasingly central to Meta’s messaging ecosystem, and blending Status ads with direct chat options could help advertisers connect more personally while capitalizing on WhatsApp’s growing role as a hub for conversations.

What’s next. As Meta expands access, advertisers in eligible regions will have more ways to test whether WhatsApp’s conversational ad formats fit into their broader customer engagement strategy.