WhatsApp has introduced new features for its Updates tab, which is home to both Channels and Status. The features include:

• Channel subscriptions: Users will be able to support their favourite channel by subscribing to receive exclusive updates for a monthly fee.
• Promoted Channels: Users will be able to discover new channels that might be interesting to them when they’re looking through the directory. For the first time, admins have a way to increase their Channel's visibility.
• Ads in Status: Users will be able to find a new business and easily start a conversation with them about a product or service they’re promoting in Status.

These new features will appear only on the Updates tab, away from the personal chats. This means if a user only uses WhatsApp to chat with friends and loved ones, there is no change to their experience at all.

For more information, visit whatsapp.com.