7 things you didn't know about WhatsApp

WhatsApp is probably the most popular messenger on the market. Over time, some curious facts and statistics have accumulated, which we present to you in this article.

1. Valuable, world-famous, WhatsApp - curious messenger statistics

WhatsApp has more than 450 million users, of which around 70 percent are active every day. But that's not the only amazing data about Messenger:

• For example, 60 billion messages and over 700 million photos are sent every day. Assuming an average size of 150 kbytes per message, this results in a total volume of approximately 4, 330 terabytes. For comparison: the world's largest SSD can only accommodate 60 terabytes.
• But these values ​​will soon appear to be low: WhatsApp attracts around one million new users every day, who in turn send countless messages. Almost 1.5 billion users are already active.
• Around two thirds of German mobile phone users now use WhatsApp, of which around 70 percent use the service every day. In South Africa there are 78 percent of the population. The situation is very different in China and Togo: the messenger service has been blocked there since September 2017.
• There are also statistics on the behavior of individual users: the average WhatsApp user sends over 1, 200 messages per month and receives more than 2, 200 messages. There are also around 40 photos per month. On average, every user checks WhatsApp for new messages 23 times a day and spends 195 minutes in Messenger.
• The app itself is downloaded an average of twelve times per second.

2. WhatsApp as a PayPal alternative

PayPal, Sofortüberweisung, Telekom Wallet - mobile payment methods are currently all the rage. WhatsApp can now also be used to settle private bills, but so far only in India.

• The users in South Asia already have access to the so-called UPI payment. With this feature, money can be transferred to friends and family via Messenger.
• It is still unclear whether and when the payment method will also be available in Germany.

3. More valuable than entire countries: Financial facts about WhatsApp

Not only the number of users of WhatsApp impress. You can also find some strange statistics in the financial area:

• There are no exact figures for the value of WhatsApp. However, Google had rumored the developer had submitted an offer of $ 10 billion and ultimately Facebook paid around $ 19 billion for the messenger. According to Mark Zuckerberg, WhatsApp is worth significantly more than the purchase price paid.
• This makes the smartphone app even more valuable than around 45 countries around the world. Measured in terms of GDP (gross domestic product), countries like Malta and Iceland cannot keep up with Messenger at around $ 10 and $ 15 billion, respectively. Even NASA's annual budget is below the value of WhatsApp.
• Although WhatsApp is now the most well-known app, the developers have not invested a single cent in advertising. The Messenger spread all by itself among users.

4. Insider tip: Analyze your own WhatsApp usage

Most WhatsApp users use the service for several hours a day. You can find out whether you are one of them using your own WhatsApp statistics:

• In the past, the free Android apps "WhatStat" and "Chat Statistics for WhatsApp" showed detailed diagrams for your personal use.
• In the meantime, WhatsApp has blocked access to the app database, so that you can no longer read your usage.
• However, you can still read out the number of your written and received messages: To do this, tap on "Settings" in WhatsApp and select the "Use" option.

5. From WhatsZap to WhatsApp: time travel with the messenger app

• Jan Koum founded WhatsApp on his birthday. On February 24, 2009, he is said to have walked over the Frisbee field to his friend Brian Acton and announced his plan to him.
• Both were executives at Yahoo and played soccer and Ultimate Frisbee together. What also unites the founders: Everyone had applied to Facebook and was rejected.
• In a small office in Mountain View in California, the two started work on the messenger, which was originally called "WhatsZap". Until the takeover by Facebook, the company had only 55 employees, now there are almost 5, 800 on Facebook.
• In contrast to the current versions, the start was bumpy: Many bugs, low download numbers and countless security gaps made it difficult for Messenger to start. But after just a few months, the app spread like wildfire, which spared almost no smartphone. In April 2013 there were already 200 million and in January 2014 around 430 million users.
• Despite the success, the founders' motto does not seem to have changed. Rumor has it that Jan Koum still has a sticky note on his desk today, which is supposed to commemorate the messenger's philosophy with the words "No Games, No Ads, No Gimmicks".

6. An open book: is WhatsApp really spying on your data?

With the purchase through Facebook, many rumors have increased: WhatsApp is supposed to spy on its users and save messages on its own servers. But often there is only scaremongering behind it:

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• For example, WhatsApp does not save messages on its own servers. These are only temporarily stored there and are otherwise only on the respective devices. WhatsApp temporarily saves phone numbers from your address book in order to be able to display the respective contact name, but the app does not transmit any further information.
• The persistent rumor of the "super bug" should also be treated with caution: WhatsApp would theoretically have permanent access to your microphone, but the app only uses the hardware if you send a voice message or use WhatsApp to make calls.
• However, the service is not 100% secure. The encryption is very insecure compared to other messengers like Threema. In addition, messages sent could be read by third parties at any time via smartphone, even without starting the app.
• In another article we clear up other rumors about WhatsApp and give you tips on how to use Messenger safely.

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7. Drilled Messenger: Secret WhatsApp extensions

New emoticons, new sounds, better backup - for Android you will find numerous apps that add useful functions to WhatsApp.

• The free "DashClock What App" shows you your messages on the lockscreen.
• If the many WhatsApp smileys are not enough for you, you can expand the messenger with countless free pictures. To do this, download the free "WhatSuite" app.
• "Messenger Protect" is not a game, but a useful security feature for WhatsApp. This protects your Messenger with a password and secures your messages from prying eyes.
• Anyone who uses Facebook Messenger in addition to WhatsApp knows its practical feature: A chat bubble makes Messenger available everywhere, so that you can answer your contacts at any time via an overlay. The free extension "Dashdow also brings this feature to WhatsApp.
• You can find more cool WhatsApp extensions in our app collection.