WhatsApp’s rollout of ads will change the app forever

This week, WhatsApp did something its founders said it would never do: it's putting advertisements inside the app. It ends WhatsApp's decade-plus run of offering an ad-free messaging and calling experience.

Meta, which acquired WhatsApp in 2014, attempted to justify the decision by saying ads will be sequestered to its "Updates" tab, where you'll see some sponsored status updates. WhatsApp's status feature allows users to share photos, videos, and text messages that disappear after 24 hours - but now you'll see ones from businesses...