Who Owns WhatsApp? Most Americans Are Still in the Dark

In today's fast-paced digital age where social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are ubiquitous, one might think that most users would be well aware of who owns these popular messaging apps. However, a recent survey conducted by DuckDuckGo has thrown some surprising results into the mix.

According to the findings from this US-based privacy-protecting search engine, nearly half (50%) of Americans who have used WhatsApp within the last six months are still clueless about its true ownership status. Yes you read that right - despite being one of the most widely-used messaging platforms globally with over 2 billion monthly active users as per recent estimates from Statista.

The survey conducted by DuckDuckGo sought to gauge public awareness regarding various aspects related to popular social media giants including but not limited to their parent companies and respective ownership structures. WhatsApp, which was acquired by Facebook Inc (now rebranded Meta Platforms) back in 2012 for a staggering $19 billion deal at that time is surprisingly still shrouded under mystery among many of its user base.

Interestingly enough this lackadaisical attitude towards understanding who really owns their favorite social media platforms does not seem isolated to just WhatsApp alone. The same survey also revealed alarming levels of ignorance amongst US citizens when it comes to other major tech giants like Google, Amazon and Apple - with a staggering 64% respondents claiming they have no idea whether these companies own or co-own popular services such as YouTube (73%), Twitch TV(74%)and Shazikker respectively.

The lack of awareness among users about the ownership status of their favorite social media platforms raises several concerns. Firstly, it leaves room for potential data privacy breaches and misuse by third-party entities who may gain unauthorized access to user information due to lax security measures put in place by these companies. Secondly, this ignorance also translates into a general apathy towards understanding intellectual property rights associated with digital content shared on such platforms.

In light of the recent WhatsApp policy update that has drawn flak from several quarters for its ambiguous stance on intellectual property and copyrights, it is high time users wake up to reality and take cognizance of their online activities. After all, as they say - knowledge is power!

So next time you share a movie song or clip on WhatsApp via any messaging app remember that your actions have far-reaching consequences beyond just 'liking' or 'sharing'. The new policy update by Meta Platforms Inc (formerly Facebook) has introduced provisions to protect intellectual property rights of its users and partners alike. Therefore, it is essential for all social media enthusiasts out there to familiarize themselves with these terms before sharing any copyrighted material online.

In conclusion, the survey results are a wake-up call for both tech companies and individual users alike to take responsibility towards protecting their digital privacy and intellectual property rights in today's hyper-connected world where information spreads like wildfire at lightning-fast speeds. As we continue our journey into this uncharted territory of social media usage let us all remember - 'you can't fix what you don't know'!

Who owns whatsapp