According to a survey of smartphone users conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 in ten markets worldwide, WhatsApp was the most used mobile communication platform for personal messages, with five in ten respondents reporting using it to exchange messages with friends and family. By comparison, 35 percent of respondents reported using Facebook Messenger. Telegram and Snapchat were used by approximately two in ten respondents, respectively.
Most used mobile messaging channels for smartphone users worldwide to communicate with friends and family as of January 2021
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Most used mobile messaging channels for smartphone users worldwide to communicate with friends and family as of January 2021
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According to the source, the study includes data for "6,500 smartphone users, 650 in each of 10 countries."
The survey was conducted in 10 markets worldwide: Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, United States.
Original question: "How communicate via mobile with friends/family"
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Mobile Ecosystem Forum. (October 14, 2021). Most used mobile messaging channels for smartphone users worldwide to communicate with friends and family as of January 2021 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 18, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1273219/most-used-personal-message-channels-worldwide/
Mobile Ecosystem Forum. "Most used mobile messaging channels for smartphone users worldwide to communicate with friends and family as of January 2021." Chart. October 14, 2021. Statista. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1273219/most-used-personal-message-channels-worldwide/
Mobile Ecosystem Forum. (2021). Most used mobile messaging channels for smartphone users worldwide to communicate with friends and family as of January 2021. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 18, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1273219/most-used-personal-message-channels-worldwide/
Mobile Ecosystem Forum. "Most Used Mobile Messaging Channels for Smartphone Users Worldwide to Communicate with Friends and Family as of January 2021." Statista, Statista Inc., 14 Oct 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1273219/most-used-personal-message-channels-worldwide/
Mobile Ecosystem Forum, Most used mobile messaging channels for smartphone users worldwide to communicate with friends and family as of January 2021 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1273219/most-used-personal-message-channels-worldwide/ (last visited April 18, 2025)
Most used mobile messaging channels for smartphone users worldwide to communicate with friends and family as of January 2021 [Graph], Mobile Ecosystem Forum, October 14, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1273219/most-used-personal-message-channels-worldwide/
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