WhatsApp continues to expand channel features by adding tools aimed at greater transparency. A new option has been spotted in the latest Android beta version of the app, 2.26.4.10, available via the Google Play Beta program. It will allow channel administrators to voluntarily label posts as advertisements or paid partnerships, according to WABetaInfo.
How the labeling will work
After a channel admin publishes a post, an option to add a paid partnership label will appear in the additional menu. When selected, WhatsApp will show a warning and ask the admin to confirm the action. Once confirmed, the label will appear next to the post and be visible to all subscribers.
Key implementation details
The label cannot be removed on its own. To remove it, the post must be deleted and published again without the advertising status. If the post is forwarded to another channel or chat, the label will remain. The feature is entirely voluntary. WhatsApp will not automatically classify content as advertising.Why this matters
The new option is designed to help subscribers better understand where original content ends and commercial collaboration begins. At a time when channels are increasingly monetized through brands, sponsorships, and native advertising, this level of transparency is especially important.
For now, the feature is being tested only on Android. There is no word yet on when it will reach the stable release, but beta features typically roll out within a few weeks to a couple of months.
In short
WhatsApp on Android is testing a voluntary option that lets channel admins label posts as ads or paid partnerships. The label cannot be removed without deleting the post and remains visible when the post is forwarded. The feature aims to improve transparency for subscribers and make it easier to distinguish editorial content from commercial material. It is expected to arrive in one of the upcoming updates.
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