In a tech business move that everyone is talking about, Facebook’s founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is set to acquire the free mobile messaging service WhatsApp for a total of $19 Billion.
According to NPR, $16 billion of the purchase comes in cash and stock. The additional $3 billion is in Facebook stock for the employees of WhatsApp…all 55 of them. The small team runs this free app that seems to be hugely popular outside of America, where text messaging rates can be exorbitantly high.
In less than five years, WhatsApp gained 450 million users, supposedly posing the app as a threat to Facebook, which just celebrated its 10th birthday on Feb. 4.
In the time since Zuckerberg broke the news, Twitter has lit up with conversations about the move. Here’s what users have to say about Facebook trying to rule the internet.
We’re guessing WhatsApp is pretty excited.
you can’t even pronounce the brands of champagne they’re spraying on each other at whatsapp’s valley office right now
— Chris Ziegler (@zpower) February 19, 2014
But that’s not the case for everyone else.
Facebook to Buy WhatsApp for $19 Billion: http://t.co/dP11Imxgsv We’ve officially hit a new high of bubble stupidity, folks! — Jesse Colombo (@TheBubbleBubble) February 19, 2014
And just in case you’re still not sure what it is.
WhatsApp: That thing you never heard of used by 450 million people you don’t know bought for $16 billion by that douche you wish was you — Info Security Jerk (@infosecjerk) February 20, 2014
We’re almost positive Zuckerberg has a plan to rule the world, or maybe just the internet.
Facebook just bought the only app that could truly call itself a Facebook killer. http://t.co/ahqE1PR8u9
— NYTimes Bits (@nytimesbits) February 19, 2014
Austin Powers will always be relevant.
When reading about Facebook buying WhatsApp for 16 billion dollars, anyone else hear it in Dr. Evil’s voice? #Beeeleeon
— Kevin Lim (@KevinLimOnAir) February 20, 2014
But these corny jokes we’re not so sure about.
Facebook are buying Whatsapp.. WHATSAPP WITH THAT AY — Martin Luke Brown (@martinlukebrown) February 20, 2014
haha… facebook have bought whatsapp for $16 billion?? idiots! i got it free in the app store! — jordan fish (@jordanfish) February 20, 2014
Even kids know that’s a whole lot of cash.
“That’s a lot of dollars.” — Catherine, 9, hearing the price tag on Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp
— Joshua Auerbach (@auerbach) February 20, 2014
And if you’re talking about the Olympics or civil unrest in Ukraine, no one cares.
are you tweeting about anything other than whatsapp right now? then everyone is ignoring you.
— zach sims (@zsims) February 20, 2014
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