According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, WhatsApp has crossed 100 million monthly active users in the United States. This is the first time that data regarding its American market has been shared. Of interest, over half of WhatsApp users in the United States are iPhone owners, mirroring the market lead at this point held by iOS.
Globally, WhatsApp still holds the position with a user base of more than 2 billion monthly active users. India has the maximum number of WhatsApp users, with more than 500 million monthly active users, followed by Brazil and Indonesia. Its U.S. growth, however, is indicative of its growing influence.
WhatsApp has recently increased its marketing efforts across the U.S. The company has run several ad campaigns where it promotes the features on Times Square billboards and TV. One campaign running recently featured cast members of the TV show “Modern Family” in an attempt to increase user engagement.
In its marketing strategy, Meta has very often pitted WhatsApp against the likes of Apple’s iMessage. However, despite this difference between the green bubble and the blue bubble, WhatsApp is never behind. Now, Apple is adopting RCS, providing Android users with advanced media capabilities and read receipts, but messages remain green.
In addition, it has higher-order features such as polls, high-quality video calls, and reactions. Meta is closing out its marketing drive by placing the largest bubble ad—200 feet between Apple and Samsung stores—at The Americana Mall in Los Angeles as a catching visual promotion for user adoption.
How this has grown its U.S. user base is a combination of good marketing and feature improvements. Meta, to date, sustains WhatsApp at the top among messaging apps through conventional and innovative promotional schemes.