Which company owns the WhatsApp messaging service, acquired in 2014?

Meta Platforms owns WhatsApp, which it acquired in 2014. Facebook announced the purchase in February 2014, and the transaction was completed later that year for a combination of cash and stock.

WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton. It began as a simple status application before developing into an internet-based messaging service supporting text messages, voice calls, video calls, and group conversations. It is especially widely used outside the United States.

Meta Platforms changed its corporate name from Facebook, Inc. in October 2021. The company’s other major platforms include Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. WhatsApp is therefore a Meta business, although its brand and app identity remain separate from Facebook.