WhatsApp has firmly established itself as one of the world’s most widely used messaging apps, with over 2 billion active users connecting daily across the globe. Its simple design, reliable service, and end-to-end encryption have made it a favorite choice for personal and business communication alike. 

But if you’re curious about who owns WhatsApp and how it evolved from a small startup into a global giant, it’s important to understand the whole story behind the app. 

In this blog, you’ll learn about major milestones in WhatsApp’s growth, like founders, key investors and more. We’ll cover the timeline of major updates starting from 2018, and the privacy issues it has faced.

Important Milestones in WhatsApp’s Growth

WhatsApp’s journey from a simple status app to the world’s most popular messaging platform is marked by several key moments. These important milestones show how the app grew, gained users, and added features that changed the way we communicate. Here are the most important milestones in WhatsApp’s growth:

1. Founding and Early Development (2009)

WhatsApp was created in February 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton. Both had worked at Yahoo before starting this new project. 

• Koum got the idea after he bought an iPhone and noticed the growing potential of mobile apps. 
• He wanted to build a simple app that allowed people to update their status for others to see. 
• With help from a friend named Alex Fishman and a developer named Igor Solomennikov, they built the first version of WhatsApp. 
• The company was officially registered in California on February 24, 2009.

2. Launch and Early Challenges (2009)

The first version of WhatsApp was launched for iPhone users in August 2009 (WhatsApp 2.0). 

• Initially, the app experienced several technical issues, including bugs and battery drain. These issues made Jan Koum think about shutting it down. 
• But soon after, Apple introduced push notifications. 
• This allowed WhatsApp to alert users when a contact changed their status. This small feature made the app more useful and helped it gain early users.

3. Early Days and Seed Funding (2009)

Later in 2009, Brian Acton raised $250,000 by asking five of his former colleagues from Yahoo to invest in WhatsApp. 

• This early funding helped the company stay alive and continue development. 
• Because of this financial support, Acton officially joined Koum as a co-founder by the end of that year.

4. Android Launch and Paid Service (2010)

WhatsApp launched its Android version in August 2010. 

• This helped the app reach a broader audience across various mobile platforms. 
• Around this time, WhatsApp also became a paid service. 
• Users could download the app for free, but were asked to pay a small yearly fee after the first year. 
• This fee helped cover operating costs while keeping the app free of ads.

5. Venture Capital Investment and Rapid Growth (2011–2013)

Jan Koum and Brian Acton were cautious about accepting outside funding because they wanted to keep WhatsApp simple and free from advertisements. 

• In 2011, they accepted $8 million in funding from Sequoia Capital, a major venture capital firm. 
• Sequoia agreed not to push ads as a way to make money. This deal gave WhatsApp the freedom to grow without changing its user experience.
• By early 2013, WhatsApp had 200 million active users and more than 50 employees. 
• To support this fast growth, Sequoia invested another $50 million. 
• This second investment valued WhatsApp at $1.5 billion.

6. Introduction of Voice Messaging (2013)

In August 2013, WhatsApp introduced voice messaging. 

• This allowed users to send voice notes easily and made communication more flexible, especially in areas with slow internet or where typing messages was difficult.

7. Facebook Buys WhatsApp (2014)

On February 19, 2014, Facebook announced that it would acquire WhatsApp for $19 billion. 

• This was one of the biggest tech deals at that time. 
• The deal included $4 billion in cash, $12 billion in Facebook stock, and $3 billion in restricted shares for the founders and employees.
• Sequoia Capital’s early investment brought them huge returns. 
• Despite the sale, WhatsApp continued to run as an independent service, keeping its original style and purpose.

8. New Features and Better Security (2015–2016)

In January 2015, WhatsApp launched its web version, which let people use the app on their computers. 

• Voice calling was added in March 2015, and users could start sharing documents by 2 March 2016. 
• One of the most important updates came in April 2016 when WhatsApp introduced end-to-end encryption for all messages. This made conversations more private and secure. 
• Around this time, WhatsApp also removed the yearly fee and became free for all users.

9. Group Calls and Privacy Controls (2018–2020)

In July 2018, WhatsApp launched group voice and video calls. 

• By 2020, these group calls could support up to eight people. 
• WhatsApp also added new privacy settings that allowed users to control who could add them to group chats. 
• Another important change was the limit placed on how often messages could be forwarded. This helped reduce the spread of fake news and spam.

10. Disappearing Messages and Reactions (2021–2022)

In 2021, WhatsApp added the option to send disappearing photos and videos that could only be viewed once. 

• In 2022, new features were added, including emoji reactions to messages, sending larger files up to 2GB, and creating bigger group chats with up to 512 people.

11. Message Editing, Channels, and Visual Updates (2023–2025)

In May 2023, WhatsApp allowed users to edit messages within 15 minutes after sending them. 

• In June 2023, Channels were introduced, which are one-way message streams that allow updates to be sent to unlimited followers. 
• In August 2023, high-definition photo and video sharing was added. 
• By December 2024, the typing indicator was changed to show the sender’s profile picture as a moving dot. 
• As of May 2025, WhatsApp had more than 3 billion users, making it the most used messaging app in the world.

12. Current Ownership and Status (2025)

Today, WhatsApp is fully owned by Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook. Even after the acquisition, the app has stayed free to use and does not show any ads. Its funding journey, from a small team with a simple idea to one of the most popular apps globally, is seen as one of the biggest success stories in the tech world.

Also read: Boost Business with WhatsApp Marketing Automation

After looking at WhatsApp’s key milestones, let’s take a closer look at the major updates that have shaped the app since 2014.

WhatsApp Updates Timeline Starting from 2018

WhatsApp has introduced many key updates since 2018, shaping how users connect, share, and manage privacy. Here are the most important updates WhatsApp has made since 2018 that have shaped the way you use the app today.

1. 2018

The WhatsApp Business app was launched to help small business owners stay in touch with their customers easily.

• New features like stickers, group calling, and UPI payments were added to give you more ways to chat and make payments.

2. 2020

A new option to mute chats “Always” replaced the earlier one-year limit, letting you silence conversations permanently.

• Support for animated stickers became available everywhere.

3. 2021

You were given the option to send uncompressed images and videos, keeping their original quality.

• WhatsApp began testing end-to-end encrypted backups and multi-device support.
• Chat history transfer from Android to iPhone was introduced, starting with Samsung phones.
• Privacy updates made it possible to control who could see your “Last Seen” status.

4. 2022

The Communities feature was introduced to help you keep multiple group chats organized in one space.

• WhatsApp added message reactions, the ability for group admins to delete any message, and 32-person voice calls.
• File sharing limits increased to 2 GB, and group sizes grew to support up to 512 members.

5. 2023

WhatsApp introduced the ability to log in on multiple devices using the same account.

• In 2023, voice status updates allowed you to post voice messages as status updates.
• WhatsApp Channels were launched to help you share updates with large numbers of followers.
• Quick video messages up to 60 seconds were added, making it easy to send short clips.
• Large group voice chats and a “Secret Code” feature for hiding certain chats were also added.

6. 2024

An AI-powered Smart Assistant was launched, helping you ask questions and generate images using Meta’s LLaMa 3 model.

• Chat filters were introduced to let you sort chats by All, Unread, or Groups, and later expanded to custom filters.
• Voice and video calling got better with support for up to 32 people, screen sharing with audio, and more stable connections.
• Voice message transcription was added so you could read voice messages instead of listening to them.

7. 2025

WhatsApp announced that starting June 1, 2025, it will no longer support older Android and iOS devices. 

• This change helps keep the app working with the latest features and security improvements.

Also read: WhatsApp Marketing 101: How to Use WhatsApp for Marketing

As WhatsApp kept adding new features and improving how it works, it also faced important challenges around user privacy and security that you should be aware of.

Also read: The History of Shopify: Founders, Funders, and Timeline

Privacy Issues and Controversies of WhatsApp 

Even though WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, it has faced several privacy concerns and security issues over the years. 

Here are the main privacy challenges and controversies WhatsApp has faced so far:

1. End-to-End Encryption and Its Limitations

WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, which means only you and the person you're chatting with can read the messages. 

• Even WhatsApp and Meta can’t see them. But if someone gets physical access to your phone, like the police or a hacker using spyware, they can still read your chats. 
• This became a big concern in 2025 when Mark Zuckerberg shared that tools like Pegasus spyware can let others see your messages if they get into your device.

2. Advanced Chat Privacy Features (2025)

In April 2025, WhatsApp added new privacy controls under a setting called Advanced Chat Privacy. 

• This feature helps stop others from exporting your chats, saving media automatically, or using your messages for AI features. 
• It’s helpful in large group chats, especially when you're not familiar with everyone.
• You can turn this setting on anytime, and WhatsApp is expected to add more options like this soon.

3. Spyware Attacks and Security Threats

WhatsApp has been targeted by major spyware tools. 

• Back in 2019, the Pegasus spyware was used to attack more than 1,400 users, including reporters and activists, through a security flaw in the app. 
• Even though Meta sued the company behind it (NSO Group), similar attacks continued.
• In 2025, a new spyware called Graphite, made by Paragon, was used to infect users through harmful files shared in group chats. 
• These attacks show that even with encrypted messages, outside threats still exist.

4. Scams and Cybercrime Risks

Because so many people use WhatsApp, it’s often targeted by scammers. 

• In 2025, India reported almost 43,797 complaints about WhatsApp scams in just three months. 
• The UK also saw a big rise in scams like “Friend-in-Need,” where users lost a lot of money. 
• These scams usually trick people by pretending to be someone they trust.

5. Ongoing Security Measures

WhatsApp keeps updating its system to fix problems and improve safety. 

• In 2025, it introduced new tools like usernames to protect your identity and reduce spam messages. 
• These regular updates are part of WhatsApp’s effort to keep the app safer for everyone.

While privacy concerns continue to be a big topic for WhatsApp users, there are also powerful ways the app can help your business grow. 

Let’s see how Zoko makes selling through WhatsApp easier and more effective for you.

How Zoko Helps You Boost Sales Using WhatsApp?

If you run a Shopify store, connecting with your customers on WhatsApp can make a big difference. Zoko is a platform designed to help Shopify merchants sell directly through WhatsApp, making communication easier and sales faster.

Here’s how Zoko can help you grow your business and improve customer experience:

• WhatsApp Integration for Shopify: Zoko links your Shopify store with WhatsApp, so you can chat with customers, share product details, and manage orders all in one place. This direct connection helps build trust and speeds up buying decisions.
• Shiprocket Integration for Smooth COD Management: With Shiprocket integrated, handling cash-on-delivery orders and tracking shipments becomes simple and efficient. This helps you manage deliveries better and reduce delays or mistakes.
• Advanced Shopify Features: Zoko allows you to automate order updates, respond to customer support requests, and handle returns via WhatsApp. This saves time and keeps your customers informed at every step.
• WhatsApp Payments and AI Tools: You can accept payments directly through WhatsApp for quick and secure transactions. Plus, AI-powered features help personalize conversations, making your customer interactions more effective and improving sales.
• Better Customer Engagement and Support: Because WhatsApp is familiar and widely used, your customers will feel more connected. Zoko makes it easier to answer questions and solve issues right in WhatsApp, improving overall satisfaction.

Ready to see how Zoko can transform your Shopify business? Book your 7-day free trial and start selling smarter through WhatsApp!