Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Thursday that WhatsApp has surpassed 100 million monthly active users in the United States. This is a significant milestone for the messaging app in a country where SMS and traditional texting have long been dominant.
This announcement marks the first time WhatsApp has released user data specific to the U.S. market. Notably, more than 50% of WhatsApp users in the U.S. are iPhone owners, reflecting the strong market presence of iOS devices in the country.
Globally, WhatsApp boasts over 2 billion active users, with significant user bases in countries like India, Brazil, and Indonesia. India alone has more than 500 million monthly active users, making it the app’s largest market.
To increase its presence in the U.S., WhatsApp has recently ramped up its marketing efforts. The company has launched ad campaigns, featured placements in Times Square, and aired TV spots highlighting its commitment to privacy and end-to-end encryption. In a recent campaign, WhatsApp even reunited some of the cast members from the popular TV show “Modern Family.”
Despite Apple adopting Rich Communication Services (RCS) for better multimedia messaging and features like typing indicators and read receipts, Meta continues to emphasize WhatsApp’s cross-platform capabilities. The messaging app promotes features like polls, high-quality video calling, and reactions, which are designed to enhance user interaction across different devices.
In a bold marketing move, Meta placed a 200-foot bubble between the Apple and Samsung stores at The Americana Mall in Los Angeles. This installation aims to draw attention to WhatsApp’s unique features and reinforce its appeal as a versatile messaging platform.
As WhatsApp grows its user base in the U.S., Meta’s strategic marketing efforts highlight its commitment to expanding the app’s reach and emphasizing its advantages in a competitive market.
