Meta is expanding its ad products on WhatsApp by rolling out click-to-message ads in WhatsApp Status. The update builds on ads Meta first introduced in June, which allowed brands to show promotions between Status updates from friends.

How the format works

The new option places full-screen ads that open a chat with a business when clicked.
According to Meta, the ads will only appear in the Updates tab, which hosts Status and Channels but is separate from private chats and calls. This means users will not see the ads inside their personal conversations. Instead, the Status placement works like Stories ads on Instagram or Facebook, filling the screen until the user swipes away.

When someone clicks the ad, it opens a WhatsApp chat with the advertiser. This creates a direct path from the promotion to a messaging thread where businesses can answer questions, share details, or complete a sale.

How it connects with Facebook and Instagram ads

Meta is also linking this feature with its existing ad products. Advertisers running click-to-message campaigns on Facebook and Instagram can now include WhatsApp Status as an additional placement. That means a campaign could run across all these platforms but still lead people to chat on WhatsApp.

For example, a clothing brand could run an Instagram ad promoting a limited-time sale. Instead of sending the user to a website, the ad could redirect them to WhatsApp, where the customer can chat with a sales representative about sizes, availability, or shipping.
This setup mirrors Meta’s click-to-message ad ecosystem, where the goal is to move people from scrolling on one of its platforms into direct messaging with a brand.

Meta confirmed that availability is limited to certain regions at this stage.

‍