Why we don't sell ads – WhatsApp Blog • Hacker News Board

Re: Why we don't sell ads – WhatsApp Blog

#71

Post by otterley » Mon, Apr 20, 2015, 2:09 PM UTC

alandarev wrote: post #24

chrisguitarguy wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect it's because WhatsApp's backend can be turned into a platform that will run WhatsApp itself as well as Facebook Messenger. There's a lot more opportunity to do messaging between businesses and individuals (eg. customer service) as well -- see messenger for business. Not saying Facebook isn't out to sell ads, just that there's probably a lot of reasons that Facebook might want WhatsApp's technology and team.…

No company was acquired for its "backend".

Nonsense. Google's acquisition of Applied Semantics (which developed AdSense) became a major revenue engine for the company. There are countless other examples as well.

Re: Why we don't sell ads – WhatsApp Blog

#72

Post by andrelaszlo » Mon, Apr 20, 2015, 2:14 PM UTC

Psion7 wrote: post #38

WhatsApp isn't about putting ads into the app but for better data collection. That is why Facebook bought them. Facebook sells ads and targeting data and one of the best ways to analyse a persons life to better target them for ads is from their personal, non-public communication. You will talk about many more things in private conversation with friends and family than you will publicly on your Facebook profile. A sim…

"We may share non-personally-identifiable information [...] with interested third-parties to assist them in understanding the usage patterns for [...] advertisements"

https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/

Re: Why we don't sell ads – WhatsApp Blog

#73

Post by wmt » Mon, Apr 20, 2015, 2:14 PM UTC

DevX101 wrote: post #43

That blog post became irrelevant the day Jan Koum signed the deal with Zuckerberg. Sure, WhatsApp isn't selling ads TODAY, but you better believe it's coming. You don't shell out $19B for a 'defensive play'.

So wait, you know that Whatsapp has never have ads, but because it some day theoretically could have ads, you're saying that the post is irrelevant? Damn.

Facebook have been bying all kinds on successful tech companies that don't have any relevance to the Facebook social network ad service, like the Oculus Rift. Not every company keeps selling one single thing forever you know?

Re: Why we don't sell ads – WhatsApp Blog

#74

Post by joeyspn » Mon, Apr 20, 2015, 2:16 PM UTC

wmt wrote: post #68

joeyspn wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That could explain why I've been getting oddly accurate (highly targeted) ads on FB related to the niche of a new app I'm developing. I haven't liked similar stuff on FB and I was wondering how in the world FB knows that info (I have talked about it extensively via whatsapp). So there are only 2 options: 1- They somewhat are able to read my browser history even when I have ABP with "Fanboy's Social Blocking List" and…

How would they link your whatsapp account to your facebook account? Whatsapp only knows my phone number and what phone numbers I contact, and my facebook account doesn't know my whatsapp phone number.

Because Facebook knows my mobile number... I provided it long ago (IIRC for setting up some ad campaigns or was required as anti-spam measure)

Re: Why we don't sell ads – WhatsApp Blog

#75

Post by wmt » Mon, Apr 20, 2015, 2:18 PM UTC

justinpaulson wrote: post #65

This is quite a hypocritical post from a company that sold out to Facebook. I guess money > values.

"If partnering with Facebook meant that we had to change our values, we wouldn’t have done it."

https://blog.whatsapp.com/529/Setting-the-record-straight

Re: Why we don't sell ads – WhatsApp Blog

#76

Post by _lce0 » Mon, Apr 20, 2015, 2:26 PM UTC

joeyspn wrote: post #58

Psion7 wrote: post #38

WhatsApp isn't about putting ads into the app but for better data collection. That is why Facebook bought them. Facebook sells ads and targeting data and one of the best ways to analyse a persons life to better target them for ads is from their personal, non-public communication. You will talk about many more things in private conversation with friends and family than you will publicly on your Facebook profile. A sim…

That could explain why I've been getting oddly accurate (highly targeted) ads on FB related to the niche of a new app I'm developing. I haven't liked similar stuff on FB and I was wondering how in the world FB knows that info (I have talked about it extensively via whatsapp). So there are only 2 options: 1- They somewhat are able to read my browser history even when I have ABP with "Fanboy's Social Blocking List" and…

first of all, I dont use facebook, I had the account active, but force myself to stay out of it ..

Lately I had added a couple new contacts to my phone's agenda, and now facebook shows me these in the "people you may know" emails

it's clear to me that they had already started the data capture

Re: Why we don't sell ads – WhatsApp Blog

#77

Post by weavie » Mon, Apr 20, 2015, 2:28 PM UTC

manigandham wrote: post #6

Messaging/chat are inherently bad apps for advertising anyway. This post was also from 2012, before selling to Facebook for 19B.

It is still linked to from their home page.

Re: Why we don't sell ads – WhatsApp Blog

#78

Post by cheepin » Mon, Apr 20, 2015, 2:48 PM UTC

scotu wrote: post #63

Justsignedup wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whatsapp is encrypted in transit. It is still stored on their servers. So they can read your messages. Edit: Link -- https://www.eff.org/secure-messaging-scorecard

If it was stored on their server I would assume I would be able to get my old messages when I change phone but it didn't happen last time I did, plus they could have implemented web also for iOS without relying on your phone to show messages in the browser (through more permissive android functionality), no?

I believe messages pass through the servers, but once a message makes it to your device, its online copy gets deleted.

Re: Why we don't sell ads – WhatsApp Blog

#79

Post by Psion7 » Mon, Apr 20, 2015, 2:59 PM UTC

wmt wrote: post #68

joeyspn wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That could explain why I've been getting oddly accurate (highly targeted) ads on FB related to the niche of a new app I'm developing. I haven't liked similar stuff on FB and I was wondering how in the world FB knows that info (I have talked about it extensively via whatsapp). So there are only 2 options: 1- They somewhat are able to read my browser history even when I have ABP with "Fanboy's Social Blocking List" and…

How would they link your whatsapp account to your facebook account? Whatsapp only knows my phone number and what phone numbers I contact, and my facebook account doesn't know my whatsapp phone number.

If you have WhatsApp and Facebook or Facebook Messenger installed on your phone then they are aware of each other and can exchange information freely.

Re: Why we don't sell ads – WhatsApp Blog

#80

Post by justinpaulson » Mon, Apr 20, 2015, 3:17 PM UTC

wmt wrote: post #75

justinpaulson wrote: post #65

This is quite a hypocritical post from a company that sold out to Facebook. I guess money > values.

"If partnering with Facebook meant that we had to change our values, we wouldn’t have done it." https://blog.whatsapp.com/529/Setting-the-record-straight

Being a subsidiary of a company that does exactly what they are advocating against is an endorsement of their activity.