The company says personal messages will remain private, but critics warn the data used for ad targeting could still put user privacy at risk. Eleven years after purchasing WhatsApp, Meta is going full throttle with its plans to monetize the communication platform.

Meta has announced the introduction of advertisements to WhatsApp, ending its long-standing ad-free experience.

Meta is finally bringing ads on WhatsApp, eleven years after the social media giant acquired the platform, whose founders avoided advertising.