America
WhatsApp, Snapchat a rage among teenagers: Report
Washington, Aug 25 (IANS) 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 percent of
smartphone owners report using messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Kik or
iMessage.
Nearly 17 percent 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 percent) of smartphone owners ages 18 to 29 use messaging apps,
while 41 percent 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 percent of online adults say they visit online
forums, with users on these sites skewing young (23 percent 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 percent of adults are internet users and 67 percent are smartphone
users.
Some 15 percent of internet users read or comment in
discussion forums such as reddit, Digg or Slashdot while 10 percent use
the blogging website Tumblr.
“Young adults are particularly
likely to use both Tumblr and discussion forums more generally, and men
are more likely than women to participate in discussion forums online,â€
the findings revealed.