WhatsApp could overtake Facebook

Facebook is facing threat from instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and WeChat, reveals a survey by Global Web Index (GWI), which a day earlier had revealed Facebook usage among youngsters was declining (See: Facebook losing appeal with teens: Study).

Facebook counts over a billion users even as its instant messaging chat WhatsApp is set to join the billion user league soon. But WhatsApp is not the only threat to the social networking market leader. Another instant messaging app WeChat is also on the same growth track.

Global Web Index (GWI) released the latest report that showed Facebook, which has left social networking rivals behind, has been feeling the heat from instant messaging apps.

Facebook stock is also facing some heat as despite massive reach, monetising still remains an issue for the company, while its stock is trading at around $77 significantly down from what it was some two months ago.

What'sApp, the Android app of Facebook, has around a 700-million user base that is growing, and is projected to overtake Facebook soon, which may explain, which may why Facebook paid as much as $19 billion to acquire WhatsApp (See: Facebook now owns WhatsApp for $19 bn as deal closes). 

According to the latest GWI report, most people were now using one of these instant messaging apps to communicate with their friends, relatives and close ones rather than through posts on their Facebook wall or inbox message.

The research involved around 42,00 users across Asia including 5,000 in India.

According to GWI, free access to these messaging apps was a key reason behind rising declining user interest in Facebook.

The report revealed, 83 per cent of internet users had Facebook accounts but only 47 per cent were using it on a regular basis. In India, 93 per cent internet users had FB account but only 48 per cent were active.

In first quarter of 2013, the apps counted 446 million users while in by the third quarter of 2014, the number had touched 616 million.

These apps were easier to access than the social networking giant, the report claimed.