Hear from execs at The New York Times, Thomson Reuters, Trusted Media Brands and many others
Facebook just purchased mobile messaging service WhatsApp for a reported $19 billion, which sent Twitter users into a state of apoplectic frenzy. Initial reports were that the deal was for $16 billion, but an additional $3 billion in restricted stock nudged the needle north. What’s $3 billion among friends?
Here are some of the funniest and most confused tweets so far:
Meanwhile, at WhatsApp HQ pic.twitter.com/eUrn67h58O
— Menotti Minutillo (@44) February 19, 2014
Facebook Buys Company, On The Condition They Add That Damn Apostrophe
— Brett LoGiurato (@BrettLoGiurato) February 19, 2014
What the hell is “WhatsApp”?
— Alfie (@AlfieBCC) February 19, 2014
Too soon. RT @mattlanger acquisition twitter might actually be worse than dead celebrity twitter
— Jonathan Shainin (@jonathanshainin) February 19, 2014
First person to use “16 Instagrams” in a headline gets punched in the face https://t.co/b9prsyYvQg
— Anthony Ha (@anthonyha) February 19, 2014
Call me when Facebook spends $16 bajillon dollars on something.
— Jason Diamond (@imjasondiamond) February 19, 2014
Facebook’s WhatsApp acquisition was the most expensive #ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayin directed at Snapchat
— Todd Olmstead (@toddjolmstead) February 19, 2014
Drinks on WhatsApp forever.
— Mike Hayes (@michaelhayes) February 19, 2014
What’sApp just sent sent a pic of cash stacks to the Snapchat boys.
— Jack Moore (@JackPMoore) February 19, 2014
My refusal to sign up for WhatsApp was prescient: in five billion years, the sun will engulf Mercury, Venus, and Earth, wiping out all life.
— Teju Cole (@tejucole) February 19, 2014
first person up with “Facebook Friends WhatsApp” headline wins. 2nd prize for “WhatsApp Finds 16 Billion Ways To ‘Like’ Facebook”
— E McMorris-Santoro (@EvanMcSan) February 19, 2014
Why We’re Not Covering Whatsapp RT @jaredbkeller: “WhatsApp” vs. “Ukraine” #obligatorychartshaming pic.twitter.com/nKgDDFXNJ8
— Veronica de Souza (@HeyVeronica) February 19, 2014
Dude, for $16bn you could probably end famines worldwide. God.
— Jessica Reed (@GuardianJessica) February 19, 2014
More in Media
The publishers’ guide to being gaslit by tech platforms (the AI edition)
Google’s recent claim that AI Overviews is good for publishers struck a nerve. But platforms often use this playbook. Here’s a guide on how to spot the spin.
Media Briefing: Publishers’ new power player: the AI negotiator
Publishers are increasingly creating and filling the role of the AI negotiator, tasked with working with tech companies and platforms to strike deals and reshape publishers’ businesses.
Inside IAB Tech Lab’s meeting with publishers to confront the AI era
Digiday’s Sara Guaglione and Seb Joseph share their reporting on IAB Tech Lab, meeting with more than 80 publishers on AI issues.