When WhatsApp users heard that Facebook was buying the app, some 500,000 of them dropped the service.
Assuming that these users left because of Facebook's reputation for selling user data, Mark Zuckerberg tried to relax the minds of future users, and current users who stayed, by telling the audience at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that Facebook won't be touching WhatsApp, or using its data. Most WhatsApp data that is sent between users is deleted almost instantly, and there are no plans to change that. "The vision is to keep the service exactly the same," he said. Facebook primarily makes its money off of advertising, which is fueled by giving advertisers data about browsing habits and the things users "like."
WhatsApp's founders have said they don't want to go the advertising route—but at a point in the future, they'll be expected to bring in some money for Zuck and Co. This could come in the form of in-app purchases, but Zuckerberg didn't get into detail as to how WhatsApp will make money without tapping into data for advertising.
"Trust is such an important thing when you're thinking about using any service where you'll share important and personal information," Zuckerberg said.
[viaHuffPo]
