WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.19.14: what's new?
WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.25.19.14.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is working on a feature that allows users to manage ad preferences for status and channels, and it will be available in a future update!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Ad preferences for status and channels |
| Status? | Under development |
| Availability? | WhatsApp is currently developing a feature to manage ad preferences for status and channels, which is expected to be released in a future update. |
| I've installed the update, but this feature isn't available. Why? | This feature is currently in development and not yet available for beta testing. In the meantime, you can read this article for a sneak peek. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.18.10.82: what's new? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to share stickers, emojis, and music as part of text status updates! |
AD PREFERENCES FOR STATUS AND CHANNELS
WhatsApp has recently announced Ads in Status and Channels, a feature that will allow businesses and channel owners to promote their products and services directly within the Status section of the Updates tab and the channel directory. Designed with privacy as a top priority, Ads in Status will be displayed using only minimal and non-personal information to ensure user confidentiality is always maintained. It appears that WhatsApp wants to offer users more control over the ads they see, allowing them to better personalize their experience and limit exposure to irrelevant or unwanted content in the future. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.19.14 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature that allows users to manage ad preferences for status and channels!
As you can see from the attached screenshot, WhatsApp is exploring the implementation of a feature that will allow users to control their advertising experience more precisely, scheduled for release in a future update. This upcoming feature will be accessible through the Updates tab as well as main settings, where users can review detailed information about all the ads they've seen recently in both Status and Channels. Each ad will be listed alongside the date it appeared, making it easier for users to monitor their exposure and recall specific promotions they might want to engage with or avoid.
In addition to the ad history, WhatsApp will also show a list of advertisers whose ads have been displayed to the user in recent days. From this list, users will have the option to permanently hide ads from specific advertisers, preventing those advertisers from showing ads in their Status or Channels feed going forward. However, if users decide to adjust their preferences, the same screen will offer the ability to restore visibility to any previously hidden advertiser, ensuring that these controls are not only powerful but also reversible.
At the very top of the ad preferences section, WhatsApp will prominently display a clear reminder to users emphasizing that their personal messages, voice calls, video calls, and status updates are all fully protected by end-to-end encryption. This means that these private forms of communication remain entirely confidential and secure, separate from ad targeting, with only the sender and recipient able to access their content. WhatsApp also assures users that none of this encrypted information will ever be used in any way to generate or target advertisements.
The WhatsApp's strict ads policy ensures that the content of these communications remains completely off-limits to advertising algorithms, as ad targeting is based on limited, non-personal information, such as a user's city or country, app language, channels followed, and engagement with previous ads. For users who choose to link their WhatsApp account to Meta's Accounts Center, additional information like ad preferences from other Meta apps may be used to improve ad relevance. However, this connection is entirely voluntary and disabled by default, and users can manage or disable it at any time to control how some limited information is shared across platforms.
It's important to note that WhatsApp will never sell or share users' phone numbers with advertisers, as their core commitment to privacy remains a foundational principle of the platform, and this dedication extends to offering users control over the ads they see. By allowing people to review recent ads and decide which advertisers can reach them, WhatsApp aims to increase transparency, helping users feel more respected and less distracted by irrelevant or unwanted content in the future.
A feature that allows users to manage ad preferences for status and channels is under development and it will be available in a future update. We will keep you updated with an additional article as soon as we have more details to share about this feature.
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