10 years ago, Facebook announced that it was purchasing WhatsApp for $19.6 billion. There are several reasons why the news shocked the online world, not the least of which is Facebook’s iffy reputation when it comes to privacy and data handling, as well as its propensity to use ads everywhere, which was contrary to what everyone had appreciated about WhatsApp.
Everyone was worried about what would happen to WhatsApp after the purchase. Facebook is known for collecting a lot of user data and showing many ads. WhatsApp became popular because it didn’t do those things. It allowed users to message friends and family for a low, flat fee each year.
When Facebook bought WhatsApp, many users left right away. They were afraid Facebook would change WhatsApp and add more ads. Others stayed because that’s where their friends and family were. Even though I didn’t like the purchase, I kept using WhatsApp too because that’s how I talked to people important to me.
In the beginning, using WhatsApp after the purchase felt strange. But over time, I noticed WhatsApp didn’t really change that much. It’s still ad-free like before. You can message who you want privately. Your conversations and media are encrypted for security too. Some other messaging apps changed more than WhatsApp did after being bought by bigger companies.
It’s now been 10 years since the purchase happened. WhatsApp has largely escaped becoming like Facebook. There are still no ads or public posts. Your privacy is still protected. WhatsApp co-founders even left Facebook, but the app remains the same.
Some people now use other apps like Telegram or Signal too. But WhatsApp is still the main way I communicate with friends and family abroad or back home. As long as it stays simple and safe to use, I’ll keep WhatsApp around. Overall, the purchase didn’t turn out as badly as originally feared. WhatsApp has survived being owned by Facebook for 10 years.
