WhatsApp, Snapchat a rage among teenagers: Report

Washington: Mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp or Snapchat have become an instant hit among teenage users, finds a new report, adding that young people are continually finding and adapting new ways of communicating electronically to suit their needs. According to a new survey by global firm Pew Research Centre, 36 per cent of smartphone owners report using messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Kik or iMessage.

Nearly 17 per cent use apps that automatically delete sent messages such as Snapchat or Wickr. Both of these kinds of apps are particularly popular among young adults. “Half (49 per cent) of smartphone owners ages 18 to 29 use messaging apps, while 41 per cent use apps that automatically delete sent messages,” the findings showed.

These apps are free, and when connected to Wi-Fi, they do not use up SMS (Short Messaging Service) or other data. “Furthermore, they offer a more private kind of social interaction than traditional social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter,” the report found.

Additionally, the report found that 15 per cent of online adults say they visit online forums, with users on these sites skewing young (23 per cent of the surveyed forum users are 18- to 29-year-olds). For the report, Pew surveyed about 1,600 internet users over the age of 18 from March to April 2015.

Overall, the report -- titled “Mobile Messaging and Social Media” -- found that 85 per cent of adults are internet users and 67 per cent are smartphone users. Some 15 per cent of internet users read or comment in discussion forums such as reddit, Digg or Slashdot while 10 per cent use the blogging website Tumblr.

“Young adults are more likely to use both Tumblr and discussion forums more generally, and men are more likely than women to participate in discussion forums online,” the findings revealed.