WhatsApp Reaches 100 Million Monthly Users in the United States

[dampfnudel]

Heard in the past some U.S. posters say they’ve never used WhatsApp. Don’t see how that’s possible.

It’s quite possible. A lot of people I know don’t use it. As an American, I’ve used WhatsApp many years mainly because of my relatives in Germany, Denmark and Austria. Also to keep in contact with about a dozen good friends living in Europe and elsewhere. So for Americans who don’t have family outside the US or travel a lot overseas which can result in new friendships with people living overseas, WhatsApp may not be considered essential to them.

 

[BigDO]

WhatsApp has actually improved since the Facebook acquisition. It‘s a good, robust, secure app and I can count on everyone i need to contact using it, with predictable outcome, good privacy features, etc.

 

[MilaM]

It is. I tried it and the experience was not fluid. I caved.

I've been using WA without contacts access for years. Never had a problem. The only downside so far is that I have to enter a new number manually (paste it for example), to start a new chat. But that does not happen very often.

 

[MilaM]

WhatsApp has actually improved since the Facebook acquisition. It‘s a good, robust, secure app and I can count on everyone i need to contact using it, with predictable outcome, good privacy features, etc.

As much as I don't like FB/Meta, WhatsApp still is an excellent app. They try hard to extend it with useless features like channels and status for example, but I don't care. At least as long as the core experience works well.

 

[UnbreakableAlex]

The Usability of iMessage seems kind of off. Something is not that snappy and flows like in what's app. But anyway I like signal more and a lot of my buddies are using it now instead of the other messenger apps.

 

[dampfnudel]

I have it, I use it once every few months. I use Signal and Telegram more. I also know very few people who use WhatsApp.

I prefer Signal and Telegram over WhatsApp, but most of my relatives and friends in Europe seem to prefer WhatsApp so that’s what I’m forced to use. I don’t like that WhatsApp is owned by Meta which anyone using it should at the very least be aware of. I think some WhatsApp users are not aware of that fact or they don’t care.

 

[jlc1978]

SMS is absolutely not free for me in the US and my family in Canada..for them or me.

I guess it depends on the plan. my includes free International texting send and receive.

A messaging platform that fails at communicating with a significant portion of the population is essentially worthless in comparison. Even if it has features that would otherwise be nice, it’s failing at its primary purpose; communication.

As long as you can communicate with whomever you need to it is irrelevant that you may not be able to communicate with significant portion of the population.

 

[dampfnudel]

In Europe WhatsApp is the standard. Have to use it to communicate with colleagues and friends. iMessage nobody uses here because of incompatibility.

Doesn’t it bother you or concern you that WhatsApp is owned by Meta? I think what happened in Europe is so many people began using WhatsApp before it was purchased by Meta and a lot of them didn’t want to “start over” with signal or Telegram. Familiarity breeds complacency. They may criticize Facebook, especially younger users, and not use that because it’s owned by Meta, but they seem to forget or tolerate WhatsApp ownership by Meta because they and they people they know are so entrenched in the app. That could be a potential mistake in the long-term.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

Brace yourself, WA will continue to grow in US, thx to stupid apple stubbornness to open imessage

Help me understand this...WhatsApp is a closed system. So how is using WhatsApp somehow an improvement? At least with Apple Messages I can send text messages to those users who don't have Apple Messages. I can't do the same thing in Meta's WhatsApp. So I don't follow your criticism of Apple here.

 

[Padriac]

If Meta wants to push their products as a standard they need to get over their deep-seated hatred if the iPad and push out iPad apps. Until then, they’re not really taking it seriously.

(And no the web is not good enough unless they’re also expecting mobile phone users to use the web)

 

[fashiondgal]

No in South America. SMS is only for emergency services (earthquakes...), spam and ads. Whatsapp is the standard for personal and work use.
If you have issues with your internet service provider, order food from a bodega or small business, make an appointment with your stylist, send a location...you need whatsapp.
We, Peruvians cannot survive a day without whatsapp.

 

[falainber]

Doesn’t it bother you or concern you that WhatsApp is owned by Meta? I think what happened in Europe is so many people began using WhatsApp before it was purchased by Meta and a lot of them didn’t want to “start over” with signal or Telegram. Familiarity breeds complacency. They may criticize Facebook, especially younger users, and not use that because it’s owned by Meta, but they seem to forget or tolerate WhatsApp ownership by Meta because they and they people they know are so entrenched in the app. That could be a potential mistake in the long-term.

It probably should concern him that WhatsApp is owned by Meta as much as it should concern you that iMessage is owned by Apple. As of July 2024, Facebook has 3.06 billion monthly active users. That's about double of Apple users of all kinds. It would appear people trust Meta more than they trust Apple.

 

[MilaM]

Help me understand this...WhatsApp is a closed system. So how is using WhatsApp somehow an improvement? At least with Apple Messages I can send text messages to those users who don't have Apple Messages. I can't do the same thing in Meta's WhatsApp. So I don't follow your criticism of Apple here.

Some resons why I think WhatsApp is perceived as superior:

All of the features (text, images, audio, calling) work cross platform without compromises (think green bubbles). It really does not matter if your counterpart has an iPhone, Android, or even a feature phone.

It's very reliable and has a consistent easy to use user interface on all platforms.

Solid group messaging features.

In comparison, Apple's Messages app feels like a hobby project. New features are usually related to flashy but useless eye-candy. But the overall experience does not feel very polished.

Also, have I mentioned, green bubbles 😱.

 

[JosephAW]

Well that’s weird I don’t have any of meta apps on my device.
Funny how they got to that number?

 

[Drs247]

I have it, I use it once every few months. I use Signal and Telegram more. I also know very few people who use WhatsApp.

You sir, are in good company. Don't change a thing (maybe one: use signal more than Telegram, if you can't get rid of it all together).
Can't believe people would use anything Meta.. but clearly there are a 100M of them proving me wrong in the US alone.
Sad state of affairs.

 

[MilaM]

They may criticize Facebook, especially younger users, and not use that because it’s owned by Meta, but they seem to forget or tolerate WhatsApp ownership by Meta because they and they people they know are so entrenched in the app.

I don't think most people left Facebook because it's owned by Meta. They don't use it because it's an awfully complicated app with very boring content. WhatsApp on the other hand is still a very polished and focused experience. No clutter and (thank god) no advertising. Would I prefer it if my contacts to use something else? Sure. But I won't go around and tell others what kind of software to use.

 

[CookItOff]

Facebook didn’t buy What’s App for 19Billion, yes with a “B”, out of the kindness of its heart. It bought it to turn a profit… your texting info. Tons of post online talking about how products/objects they text about in Whats App then show up on Facebook.
It’s OK not to use iMessage but what blows my mind is that people then jump to Meta’s app of all companies. Lol
At least use Signal or Telegram.
WTF Meta, really!?

 

[SpotOnT]

Messages between android and iPhone are currently all sms, unless using a third party app. All group texts are sms. 2factor is. In addition, rcs isn't enabled by default on a lot of android phones.

Everyone in the US and Canada uses SMS at least somewhat regularly, even if it's not their primary way of texting.

Understood, but people tend to live in bubbles. iPhone users mostly talk to iPhone users and Android users mostly talk to Android users. So the number of people communicating cross-platform through SMS isn’t as big as one might think.

Short code messages (marketing, 2 factor, etc) counts for an overwhelming share of SMS in the USA.

*slight correction to your comment. Group messaging isn’t SMS unless there is cross-platform communication in the group chat.

 

[falainber]

Well that’s weird I don’t have any of meta apps on my device.
Funny how they got to that number?

You do know that the vast majority of people do not have any Apple apps on their devices, right? That might explain a thing or two.

 

[scorpio vega]

Likely due in part to iOS 18 beta and the inability to send messages under the trash software Apple has been pushing.

You’re trying too hard.

Most of the iOS users are not on beta so why would these supposed issues affect them.

Make it make sense.

Secondly I have no issues with iMessage on my iPhone 11 or iPhone 15 pm running iOS 18.

RCS is a mess but that’s expected since it is a mess on android.

 

[falainber]

Understood, but people tend to live in bubbles. iPhone users mostly talk to iPhone users and Android users mostly talk to Android users. So the number of people communicating cross-platform through SMS isn’t as big as one might think.

Short code messages (marketing, 2 factor, etc) counts for an overwhelming share of SMS in the USA.

*slight correction to your comment. Group messaging isn’t SMS unless there is cross-platform communication in the group chat.

People do form groups based on job, interests, gender etc. I have never heard of people forming groups based on mobile OS.

 

[scorpio vega]

Nobody knows or uses iMessage in Europe.

I’m sure most iPhone users know iMessage. They just don’t use it.

Similar to how most Russians know google but don’t use it. They use yandex. Or china with baidu

Apple should have created an iMessage app for all devices

No thanks.

iMessage only works between Apple devices and ultimately that is what will kill it.

15 or so years they seem to be doing just fine.

Idk why you guys think iMessage is some hot draw that makes us choose iPhones lol. If this was 2010 sure.

Anybody still uses SMS?

I do and happily so.

Most people I know would use Facebook Messenger before WhatsApp.

Me.

I have Facebook and Instagram. Thus by extension I have manager.

I have no reason to use WhatsApp.

the green bubble is taking over due to your stubbornness and pride.

No it’s not.

but will probably switch back to a fold soon.

Bless your heart.

The Usability of iMessage seems kind of off. Something is not that snappy and flows like in what's app. But anyway I like signal more and a lot of my buddies are using it now instead of the other messenger apps.

It’s pretty easy. Type contact name in or number. The text message and hit send.

It probably should concern him that WhatsApp is owned by Meta as much as it should concern you that iMessage is owned by Apple. As of July 2024, Facebook has 3.06 billion monthly active users. That's about double of Apple users of all kinds. It would appear people trust Meta more than they trust Apple.

Yeah that’s not at all a comparison that makes sense.

First of all, google and meta regularly switch places as the company that people trust the least. Apple is usually nowhere near then because wait for it. Consumers actually trust apple.

Apple has an insanely high brand loyalty compared to most companies. Day in and day out people are constantly trashing and even deleting their Facebook accounts.

So that is categorically false.

Second of all,

You’re comparing a social media platform to a tech platform for phones/media/tablers/computers.

They are not the same.

Yes meta has more users but that’s not because of trust.

people have Facebook and have had them for years. People have instagram.

There is no legit alternative for Facebook at this moment. Twitter is a mess. Reddit is not the same.

Instagram is the de facto picture sharing platform and it is only beaten by tik tok.

When you literally have no competition against you then of course you’re going to have a huge audience and market share.

Same with YouTube. I don’t use YouTube because I trust google.

In fact it’s quite the opposite. I’ve never trusted google.

I simply use YouTube because wait for it….its the only major video sharing platform

 

[scorpio vega]

Honestly I thought WhatsApp was mainly used by Pervs and drug dealers tbh much like telegram.

Like I know normal ppl use it for communication but I felt it was for sketchy shady stuff.

 

[scorpio vega]

People do form groups based on job, interests, gender etc. I have never heard of people forming groups based on mobile OS.

Android users do it all the time.

 

[SpotOnT]

No in South America. SMS is only for emergency services (earthquakes...), spam and ads. Whatsapp is the standard for personal and work use.
If you have issues with your internet service provider, order food from a bodega or small business, make an appointment with your stylist, send a location...you need whatsapp.
We, Peruvians cannot survive a day without whatsapp.

What happened to email in Peru?