Ways that Messaging Apps reach the Community
Messaging apps have become an important part of peoples lives. They allow millions of people to communicate with their friends and family much faster, more easily, and cheaper. Messaging apps also offer a sense of security that’s not often available in other methods of communication. The number of people using messaging apps continues to rise. In some parts of the world, messaging apps have become the most used apps overall. In the beginning, messaging apps were designed for private communication between individuals or small groups, but are being used in new ways. Broadcast or bulk messaging are new ways.
According to data from Similar Web, out of 187 countries examined, WhatsApp was the most popular messaging app, and became the global leader by being the most used app in 109 countries. Findings from Global Web Index (GWI) suggest that 3 in 4 WhatsApp users use the service daily, helping this messaging app claim the title for the highest usage frequency of all the messaging apps tracked by GWI.
Although Facebook Messenger came in second place, claiming 49 countries, it remains one of the most powerful platforms for companies to reach their customers. Messaging apps can transmit or receive a much wider range of data types than Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). In addition to voice calls, video calls and text, messaging-app users can send and receive files, images, audio, location data, emojis and (in some cases) documents.
Over the past four years, messaging apps have become the primary mode of communication for millions of people around the world. This includes both individuals and aid organizations.
The Yuva Community Centre in Gaziantep, Turkey, uses Telegram and WhatsApp, as well as SMS, to send refugees information about the services provided by the centre.
In collaboration with local media, BBC Media Action used WhatsApp as part of a public-health information program to circulate information about Ebola. For some interviewees, messaging apps helped staff coordinate activities more efficiently than email or voice calls. Some used messaging apps to share information (such as location-data or photos).
The Praekelt Foundation launched a bot that provides pregnant women and new mothers in South Africa with maternal health information and support. UNICEF launched a chatbot that integrates with U-Report, a service that allows people to answer polls and report on a range of issues. In Uganda, for example, the HIV/AIDS organisation Mildmay will respond to the chatbot’s messages asking questions about HIV/AIDS.
