WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users as of 2022. With so many features available, from messaging to video calls toStatus updates, there are many options for WhatsApp users. But which feature do people use the most on the app?
Text Messaging
One of the core features of WhatsApp is its text messaging capability. This allows users to send private messages, group chats, share photos, videos, documents, and more to contacts around the world. Text messaging is often cited as the most frequently used WhatsApp feature. There are several reasons for this:
- Texting is a quick and easy way to communicate with individuals or groups.
- It avoids the limitations of regular SMS text messaging like character limits.
- Texts can be sent over WiFi so users don’t have to rely on cellular data.
- WhatsApp has read receipts so users can see when messages are delivered and read.
- It offers more privacy than regular SMS.
In many countries, WhatsApp has replaced SMS as the primary messaging method. The ability to seamlessly message contacts around the world for free makes texting on WhatsApp incredibly popular.
Group Chats
Along with standard messaging, group chats are a commonly used WhatsApp feature. Group chats allow users to communicate with multiple people at once. This is useful for families, friends, work teams, clubs, and many other groups. WhatsApp group chats have the following advantages:
- Up to 256 people can be added to a group.
- Users can name groups and add/remove participants.
- Great for collaboration, planning events, team communication.
- Media and files can be shared with the entire group.
- Useful organizational tool for large groups.
The group chat function essentially turns WhatsApp into a social network where people can connect with all their contacts at once. It brings messaging capabilities to groups that were previously only possible through email. As a core part of how people communicate today, it’s no surprise group chats are extremely popular on WhatsApp.
Voice and Video Calls
While WhatsApp started as an instant messaging app, it has evolved into a platform for voice and video calls as well. Users are able to place free WhatsApp audio or video calls to other users worldwide. Key advantages of WhatsApp calls include:
- No international calling fees apply.
- Voice calls use the internet so no cellular minutes are used.
- Video calls allow face-to-face conversations.
- Calls can be made one-on-one or with groups.
- End-to-end encryption protects call privacy.
This free calling functionality has transformed how people make international calls. Heavy usage shows that WhatsApp users love the convenience of connecting via voice and video over the app. It brings VoIP calling to the masses in an easy, accessible way through an app people already use for messaging.
| Year | Voice Call Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 100 billion per day |
| 2020 | 150 billion per day |
| 2021 | 200 billion per day |
As shown in the table above, WhatsApp voice call usage has grown rapidly each year, hitting 200 billion minutes per day in 2021. The convenience and cost savings of WhatsApp calling drive these high usage numbers.
Statuses
The WhatsApp Status feature allows users to post photos, videos, and GIFs that disappear after 24 hours. It functions similarly to Stories on Snapchat or Instagram. Statuses enable sharing moments, thoughts, and updates in a casual way to your contacts. Key features of WhatsApp Status include:
- Statuses automatically expire after 24 hours.
- Photos, short videos and GIFs can be used.
- Full privacy controls over who can see your status.
- See who has viewed your status.
- Customize status privacy for specific contacts.
Since its launch in 2017, WhatsApp Status has become popular, especially with younger users who enjoy the temporary sharing nature. Broadcasting casual life updates this way is fun and engaging for many people.
Daily Active Users of WhatsApp Status
| Year | Daily Active Users |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 250 million |
| 2019 | 500 million |
| 2020 | 1 billion |
As this data shows, WhatsApp Status has seen rapid growth since launch. It’s clear this fun, temporary sharing format resonates with users and has become an essential way people interact on WhatsApp.
Photo and Media Sharing
While WhatsApp offers voice, video, and text features, users also frequently utilize it for sharing photos, videos, GIFs, documents, and other multimedia content. Media sharing on WhatsApp has several benefits:
- Send high quality photos instantly.
- Share videos up to 16MB in size.
- GIF support allows sharing of animated clips.
- Documents across all file types can be sent.
- No compressed images like regular MMS.
- Media links preview within chats.
Having a centralized place to instantly share high quality photos and videos has made WhatsApp a go-to media sharing platform. The ability to attach any file type has also unlocked great versatility in the content people exchange.
Daily Photo Sharing on WhatsApp
| Year | Daily Shared Photos |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 55 billion |
| 2018 | 65 billion |
| 2019 | 100 billion |
Photo sharing rates on WhatsApp are staggering. People love using it to send high quality photos to friends, family, groups, and more. It’s a cornerstone of the WhatsApp experience.
End-to-End Encryption
While not an outward-facing feature, one of the key factors behind WhatsApp’s popularity is its end-to-end encryption security. This means messages, calls, photos, videos and other content is secured behind encryption only the sender and recipient can access.
End-to-end encryption provides several security benefits:
- Privacy from hackers, cybercriminals.
- Protection against government/law enforcement access.
- Peace of mind for private communication.
- Communicate safely in oppressive regimes.
- Avoid surveillance capitalism.
People value their privacy. The assurance that everything on WhatsApp is truly private and secure gives great peace of mind. For many, this encryption is a major factor in their high levels of WhatsApp usage.
Ease of Use
WhatsApp was designed from the ground up to offer an incredibly simple user experience. Signing up is as easy as verifying a phone number. The clean chat screen and intuitive interface allow anyone to start using WhatsApp right away. Key aspects that contribute to its ease of use include:
- Contact syncing across phone’s address book.
- Typing indicators, read receipts, and other useful notifications.
- Organized chat archiving and pinning.
- Profile photos, group photos, and customizable notifications.
- In-app support articles for help.
- End-to-end encryption that works automatically.
WhatsApp was built to be usable by anyone, even those unfamiliar with technology. Its interface allows people of all levels to securely communicate with each other. The app’s commitment to simplicity allows it to scale across all demographics worldwide.
Conclusions
WhatsApp has many excellent features, but text messaging remains the most popular. Messaging meets people’s communication needs in a quick, reliable way. Group chats also see heavy use for connecting multiple people at once.
Media sharing and free calls facilitate fun interactions between users. The statuses feature brings an element of social media and creative self-expression. And the app’s rock-solid encryption and ease of use instill confidence in users.
While new capabilities are always in development, WhatsApp’s core messaging delivers an essential service. Simple, secure texting meets people’s everyday communication demands, cementing it as the app’s most used feature for its 2+ billion users.