WhatsApp is rolling out a paid partnership label for channel admins on Android and iOS. The label lets admins mark their updates as sponsored content, so followers know when a channel update is part of a commercial deal. Other platforms like X already introduced a similar label earlier this year.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Feature: | Paid partnership label for channels |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Availability info: | This feature is available to some users on the latest versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp launches username reservation update! |
Social media platforms must disclose paid partnerships
A paid partnership disclosure on social media is not just a good practice. It is a legal obligation in many countries. Regulators in the United States and Europe require creators to indicate when a post is part of a commercial deal. For example, the European Union's Digital Services Act requires platforms to give creators the tools to declare commercial content. These would ensure that followers can recognize commercial content immediately. X took a step in this direction in March 2026, when it launched a dedicated Paid Partnership label for creators.
WhatsApp is rolling out a paid partnership label for channel admins
Until now, channel admins on WhatsApp had no official way to mark an update as sponsored content. They needed to add a manual note in the text to let their followers know about a commercial deal. WhatsApp is now filling that gap with the latest versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS. Specifically, WhatsApp is introducing a new paid partnership option that lets channel admins label their updates as part of a brand collaboration.
How channel admins can label a paid partnership update
Channel admins can easily label their updates as paid partnership at any time. To do so, channel admins need to tap and hold the channel update. In the context menu, they will notice a new action called Add paid partnership. This is the option that adds the visible paid label to the update. Note that once the channel admin applies the label, they will no longer be able to remove it from the update.
What followers see when an update is labeled as a paid partnership
When a channel admin marks something as a paid partnership, the label appears visibly on the update. Followers can see it immediately, without any additional steps. This makes it obvious that the content is commercial, rather than an organic recommendation from the channel admin. The label works the same way on Android, iOS, Web, and Desktop apps, so every follower sees the same disclosure.
Why this matters for transparency on WhatsApp channels
Channels on WhatsApp can reach a large number of followers, and the line between organic content and sponsored content is not always easy to spot. Without a label, a follower might assume that a recommendation from a channel admin reflects a personal opinion. The paid partnership label removes this ambiguity. Followers get the transparency they deserve, and channel admins keep themselves on the safe side.
What happens if a channel admin doesn't disclose a paid partnership
If channel admins don't disclose a paid partnership, they may face more than just an ethical issue. Depending on the country, regulators may treat undisclosed sponsored content as deceptive advertising. Such actions may include investigations, fines, or other sanctions. Beyond the legal side, the reputational damage can be just as serious. Most followers assume that a channel update reflects what the admin actually thinks. A commercial deal behind the scenes may tell a very different story.
WhatsApp is rolling out the paid partnership label on Android and iOS
The paid partnership label for channel admins is available to some users on the latest versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS. WhatsApp is rolling it out gradually, so not everyone will see it immediately. If the option does not appear yet when sharing a channel update, it should be available to more accounts over the coming weeks. WhatsApp has not announced an official timeline for when this will be available to everyone.
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