It is particularly popular in Latin America, India, and Europe, and in many cases is preferred over traditional SMS, or text, messaging. In March, 2018, the company was ordered to stop sharing data with Facebook in Europe, and users elsewhere can change settings on their phone so their data isn’t automatically shared with Facebook for targeted ads.īecause it works over WiFi and across different devices, WhatsApp, as an app and term, is popular among immigrants, families with relatives in different countries, travelers, and businesspersons. WhatsApp assured all activity was encrypted, a security feature which is one of the major draws of the service. In the wake of the Facebook data scandal in 2018, many users, journalists, and privacy advocates questioned if WhatsApp was harvesting and sharing user data. The app functions by using cellular data or WiFi and the user’s existing phone number.įacebook acquired WhatsApp, Inc. As of 2018, notable WhatsApp features include voice calling, group chats, end-to-end encryption, and status updates similar to Snapchat and Instagram Stories. It also works across major mobile device platforms, such as Android, iOS, and BlackBerry. The app, one of the first of its kind to provide messaging over WiFi, allows people to communicate on their smartphones across the world, making it a popular choice for people who live and travel abroad. The company name puns on the popular colloquial greeting What’s up? and app, short for application. WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by WhatsApp, Inc.

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