By Mallika Soni,News18
Copyright news18
Meta is rolling out a major privacy policy change that could reshape how its billions of users experience Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Beginning December 16, 2025, the company will use data from your interactions with its AI- including chatbots and creative tools- to personalise ads across its platforms.
Will Meta’s AI With Ads Cost Users More?
No. The chatbot and AI features will remain free to use. The shift isn’t about charging users directly but about generating more ad revenue by making the ads you see across Meta’s apps better targeted. Meta’s business still depends overwhelmingly on advertising and this update gives it a new stream of data to keep that model profitable.
How Will This Affect Your User Experience?
Meta argues that ads will feel more “relevant” because they’ll be based on what you ask its AI. For example, if you request workout plans in WhatsApp’s chatbot, you could later see ads for fitness gear on Instagram. But for users, this could blur the line between a helpful tool and a surveillance machine. Since there’s no opt-out, your everyday questions- from travel tips to recipe requests- could feed into Meta’s massive ad system.
Will Meta Use Your Sensitive Conversations Too?
Meta says it will not use conversations about politics, religion, health, sexual orientation or race to target ads. But nearly everything else you type or generate- from hobbies to shopping queries- is fair game. Since Meta accounts are linked, data from one app (say, a chatbot on Facebook) could shape the ads you see elsewhere (like Instagram Reels).
Do Meta Competitors Already Do This?
Yes, Amazon has already announced plans to bring advertising into Alexa+, placing ads directly into conversations with its voice assistant. Google and Microsoft are also experimenting with ads in generative AI tools, though they frame it as “sponsored results” rather than personalised ads. In that sense, Meta is aligning itself with industry trends.
Why Is Meta Making This Change Now?
Meta says over a billion people now use its AI products each month. That massive adoption makes AI not just a feature, but a data goldmine. By turning chatbot interactions into ad signals, Meta is integrating AI directly into its ad-targeting engine- ensuring that the more you chat, the more valuable you become to advertisers.
