You are inundated with photos in your “family” group, you have not yet responded to a group conversation for a common birthday present? You are one of the 7 out of 10 French people who have already used WhatsApp. The instant messaging application is very present in our lives, since 57% of French people are active on WhatsApp (57%), and more than one in four of current users would find it difficult to live without it. according to an Ifop survey for Lemon.fr.
WhatsApp has even become essential for group conversations. Between family members, to exchange vacation photos or plan a vacation, between friends to organize an evening, or between colleagues to telecommute… the French who have downloaded WhatsApp are on average members of 4.6 groups.
Seniors who are very active in family groups
“More than 90% of WhatsApp users are present in groups, it is the main object of use. The groups are very diverse: family, friendly. Despite the inconvenience that may exist in the groups, such as feeling over-solicited, overall, we are still happy to be in it and to participate, “explains Thomas Pierre, research manager at news and politics at Ifop.
All age groups are affected by the use of WhatsApp. Messaging is particularly used by young people (71% of 25-34 year olds, 64% of 35-49 year olds) but seniors are not left out: 44% of those over 65 communicate via messaging. 87% of people over 65 active on the app are members of a family group. They are also the most present and the most active in these groups, often very happy to be able to maintain a link with their family.
WhatsApp groups, “it is most likely the basic use that was desired”, explains Thomas Pierre. The application is intended to be practical: all you need is a phone number to register, the interface is intuitive, you can send photos easily. “It’s a social network very suitable for group conversations. »
Keeping in touch with family and friends is the primary function of WhatsApp for a very large majority of users. But the application is also widely used for the professional side. More than one in two users (54%) belong to a group related to their work. An even higher rate among 18-24 year olds (73%).
Sometimes feeling overworked
Even if you use this messaging service almost daily, have you ever put a conversation on silent, not listening to certain endless voice messages and being annoyed by the (too) many messages and photos sent by some ? To have wanted to leave this group of parents of students or birthday organization?
You are not alone. 63% of users admitted to having already put the application on silent, 58% are bothered by too many messages, 51% feel oppressed by the feeling of being obliged to answer, 45% find the creation of a group unnecessary and 39% are bothered by too many voicemails.
Even if the daily photos of the youngest in the family tend to annoy you, it is to be put into perspective. Whether to exchange news with relatives or friends, share photos or a cooking recipe, more than 9 out of 10 members are happy to belong to a family group (96%), a friendly group (97%) or a group of an associative nature (93%).
WhatsApp is a means of communication that has become a daily tool, at the heart of social relations. “To the point that more than one in four French people (28%) of current users would find it difficult to live without it, its use is normalizing, concludes Thomas Pierre. Nearly 90% of the population aged 12 and over have a smartphone. Our addiction to messaging and social networks should continue to grow. »
