There’s an app for every part. The truth is, one of the vital common kinds of apps is for communication. Consider all of the social media apps that you just most likely have in your cellphone. Fb, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Tinder, Bumble, Kik, and WhatsApp. However, who owns WhatsApp, and what’s the lengthy and controversial historical past behind it? Do you have to use it? Let’s get began!

WhatsApp: The Early Years

WhatsApp was created by two former Yahoo workers by the names of Brian Acton and Jan Koum. Nonetheless, neither deliberate on making the app for communication and messaging.

It was in January 2009 that Koum had purchased an iPhone. Him and Acton noticed the facility of the iPhone and knew that it was going to be a large trade’s particularly for apps. It was Koum who based the concept to create an app that gave you details about the folks in your contact checklist. The app would have the power to know the standing of everybody’s telephones equivalent to the place they have been and their battery proportion.

February 24, 2009 was when WhatsApp was integrated. Nonetheless, it stored crashing. Koum thought-about quitting, however Acton mentioned to present it extra time. Months later, Koum had added the power to know when a person’s standing had modified. This brought about the customers to ping one another with little messages. From there, it grew to become a messaging service accidentally. WhatsApp 2.0 got here out in August of the identical yr and the quantity skyrocketed from only a handful of associates to 1 / 4 million customers.

Acton would later take part on WhatsApp and with the monetary backing of their associates, WhatsApp was in a position to be developed extra and placed on iPhones and BlackBerry. Google would repeatedly ask for acquisition, however was turned down. By 2011, it was one of many prime 20 apps on the US App Retailer. Then, by 2013, WhatsApp boasted 400 million customers each month.

WhatsApp: The Later Years

In February 2014, Fb purchased the corporate for $19 billion, the biggest purchase Fb needed to date. By 2015, WhatsApp doubled in numbers and boasted 800 million customers. Then, in February 2016, WhatsApp made it to 1 billion customers.

Acton would go away in September 2017. He admitted that he left over Fb. Round this time again in March, the Cambridge Analytica scandal was breaking out. He left behind $850 million as he was in disagreement with how the corporate ought to be dealt with. Acton wished a helpful, ad-free app that helped folks that was personal for folks, one thing that Fb disagreed on.

In a while in 2018, WhatsApp created WhatsApp Enterprise for small enterprise house owners. That exact same yr, Koum introduced he was leaving as a consequence of considerations about Fb and their management over the app.

WhatsApp Now

So who owns WhatsApp now? The app grew to become instrumental for folks world wide in 2020. This was due to the unexpected coronavirus pandemic that unfold internationally. The app assisted in retaining folks up-to-date concerning the pandemic.

In October they made a function that allowed customers to dam anybody for the choices of:

The app continues to make new options such because the file add restrict being raised to having integration with an Indian app known as JioMart and can be utilized for less than folks in India.

Who Owns WhatsApp

To at the present time, WhatsApp remains to be below management of Fb, or Meta Platforms as it’s known as as of late. Meta Platforms took the app and made it into one thing that the unique creators didn’t need, forcing them to go their separate methods.

Controversy

WhatsApp has lengthy been a controversial app, particularly below Meta Platforms. Beneath are simply a number of the many points which have arisen from the app.

Misinformation

• WhatsApp imposes limits in reply to misinformation. It has been energetic since 2018. This has helped restrict the unfold of misinformation about Covid-19.

Safety and Privateness 

• WhatsApp was criticized for not having any encryption. Although, this was added in 2012. As of now, the app makes use of out of doors contractors and AI programs to regulate messages and pictures.
• A vulnerability was discovered the place somebody may set up spy ware by simply making a name that was not required to be answered.

Terrorism

• WhatsApp was reported to having ISIS customers who used the app to plot the 2015 assaults in Paris, France. ISIS additionally makes use of it for human trafficking.

Scams

• WhatsApp is residence to many scams that unfold viruses all over the place. At the least 1.5 million folks have misplaced cash from clicking on scams.

Bans

A number of nations have banned the app all for a wide range of causes. These nations embody:

• China
• Iran
• Turkey
• Brazil
• Uganda
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Cuba
• Switzerland
• Zambia

Conclusion

This app grew to become well-known due to an accident in its design. Whereas the founders had good intentions for the app, they have been shortly side-lined after being purchased out by an enormous firm like Fb. Now that you understand who owns WhatsApp, solely time will inform what’s going to occur to it.