WhatsApp turns 12, highlights key milestones

WhatsApp has completed 12 years since its debut back in February 2009. On its 12th anniversary, WhatsApp tweeted highlighting milestones of the instant messaging app. WhatsApp said it has over 2 billion users each month that send 100 billion messages. The Facebook-owned company also highlighted that one billion WhatsApp calls are made each day.

WhatsApp was developed in February 2009 with the original idea for the app to let “your friends and contacts know what you’re up to.” Months later it added simple text messaging on the app. It launched first on iOS in November 2009, later for Symbian OS in May 2010 and Android in August 2010. It has since evolved to become the most popular messaging app with features such as voice and video calling, status updates, payments and more.

WhatsApp in its celebratory tweet also reiterated the platform’s stand on user privacy. “We are and will continue to be committed to your privacy with end-to-end encryption.” It’s worth noting that this comes amid the messaging platform facing scrutiny for its updated Terms of Service and privacy policy. Earlier scheduled for February, the new terms have been postponed to May 15 due to backlash from users.

The new privacy policy also requires WhatsApp users to agree to them or stop using the app. It has since pushed efforts to explain properly what the new terms mean, and how they essentially affect business chats and not necessarily personal conversations. WhatsApp will also start displaying a banner on top of the chat list to make users more aware of the new terms coming into effect soon.