WhatsApp reaches a new record, thanks to its Indian audience

Facebook-owned WhatsApp easily qualifies as one of the most popularly used chatting apps globally. There are billions of messages exchanged over WhatsApp on a daily basis. India among other countries offers the largest consumer audience to the company. According to a study by Jana, (a mobile start-up that works in developing countries) at least 97 per cent of smartphone users in India communicate using WhatsApp.

WhatsApp’s popularity has been attested as the company announces that a total of 14 billion messages (an all-time high) were exchanged through the app in India on the eve of New Year, 2017.

Of the 14 billion, 32 per cent (3.1 billion images, 700 million GIF images and 610 million videos) were in media form. The company further stated that the New Year record surpassed the earlier record set on the eve of Diwali, 2016 where a total of 8 billion messages were exchanged through the app in India.

“WhatsApp continues to be an essential part of our lives. Whether it is celebrating festivals and occasions with friends and family or staying connected, WhatsApp is an integral mode of communication for people to connect, transcending miles and distance. WhatsApp has continued to be convenient, fast reliable and simple to use for everyone, everywhere,” the company said in a statement.