WhatsApp has announced that it now has two billion users around the world.
Mark Zuckerberg snapped up WhatsApp for almost $20billion in 2016 and it’s now become one of the most popular apps of all time.
In a blog post, WhatsApp wrote: ‘We are excited to share that, as of today, WhatsApp supports more than two billion users around the world.
‘Mothers and fathers can reach their loved ones no matter where they are. Brothers and sisters can share moments that matter. Coworkers can collaborate, and businesses can grow by easily connecting with their customers.
‘Private conversations that once were only possible face-to-face can now take place across great distances through instant chats and video calling. There are so many significant and special moments that take place over WhatsApp and we are humbled and honoured to reach this milestone.’
WhatsApp said it would continue to use encryption to protect users’ conversations and make they are not read by prying eyes.
‘We know that the more we connect, the more we have to protect,’ it added.
‘As we conduct more of our lives online, protecting our conversations is more important than ever.
‘That is why every private message sent using WhatsApp is secured with end-to-end encryption by default. Strong encryption acts like an unbreakable digital lock that keeps the information you send over WhatsApp secure, helping protect you from hackers and criminals. Messages are only kept on your phone, and no one in between can read your messages or listen to your calls, not even us. Your private conversations stay between you.
‘Strong encryption is a necessity in modern life. We will not compromise on security because that would make people less safe. For even more protection, we work with top security experts, employ industry leading technology to stop misuse as well as provide controls and ways to report issues — without sacrificing privacy.
‘WhatsApp started with the goal of creating a service that is simple, reliable, and private for people to use. Today we remain as committed as when we started, to help connect the world privately and to protect the personal communication of two billion users all over the world.’
The app must listen to its fans, because it recently halted plans to put adverts into WhatsApp following a huge backlash.
It has reportedly disbanded the team working to ‘integrate’ ads in the app, meaning users are safe from unwanted commercial messages – for now.
The world’s most popular messaging service has more than 1.5 billion users but has so far avoided monetising this loyal userbase by showing them commercials.
Facebook, owners of the app, stands to rake in vast sums of cash by allowing companies to market their products on WhatsApp.
But when WhatsApp announced the new feature last year, some users threatened to delete their accounts.
The ‘Status Ads’ were supposed launch in 2020 and would have marked a huge change for WhatsApp, which famously vowed to never introduce advertising before it was snapped by Mark Zuckerberg for $19 billion in 2014.
Now the project has been shelved, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Coming Soon to @WhatsApp…
– WhatsApp Status (Stories) to get Ads in 2020
– WhatsApp for Businesses to get richer messaging format options
– WhatsApp product catalog to be integrated with existing Facebook Business Manager catalog
h/t + 📸 @Olivier_Ptv
at #FMS19 pic.twitter.com/Z5LsbADNbP— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) May 21, 2019
After finding about the ads, WhatsApp users immediately threatened to abandon their accounts.
‘Nice. I’m sure half the users will switch over to Telegram,’ one person wrote.
Another Twitter user added: ‘Alright, well, goodbye WhatsApp.
‘Why the heck does Facebook think this is a good idea? People use WhatsApp for professional contacts and Facebook for pleasure.
‘I don’t want ads. I’d rather pay $50 a year to use it ad-free, same as always. Idiots.’
These concerns appear to have now been addressed and the adverts put on hold for the time being.
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