breakdown of mobile messaging usage by demographics

ROLE OF MOBILE MESSAGING APPS AMONG DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS

The latest data from Pew Research shows that Roughly 30% of online adults (29%) — and 36% of smartphone owners — use messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Kik or iMessage.These mobile messaging apps allow mobile users to message their acquaintances without using up SMS data, which is required when exchanging traditional text messages. Some of these messaging apps, such as iMessage, maintain conversations even if a user is not on the same devices, or across multiple devices such as a tablet, laptop or desktop computer, or cell phone. Messaging apps are especially popular among young adults. Among smartphone owners between the ages 18 to 29, 49% use messaging apps. However, these apps are relatively popular with older smartphone owners as well: 37% of smartphone owners age 30 to 49 and 24% of those ages 50 and older use mobile messaging apps.

In addition, 14% of online adults — and 17% of smartphone owners — use apps that automatically delete the messages they send, such as Snapchat or Wickr. These ephemeral messaging apps hold particular appeal to younger smartphone owners: Fully 41% of smartphone owners ages 18 to 29 use these services, compared with just 11% of smartphone owners ages 30 to 49 and 4% of those 50 and older.