Social media messengers usage index in Russia 2021

In 2021, WhatsApp was the most popular social media messenger in Russia, with a usage index of 82 percent. The usage index of one of WhatsApp's main competitors in the region - Telegram, was at 52 percent. Viber ranked third, used by nearly one half of Russians who had it installed on their devices.

WhatsApp in Russia

As of August 2021, WhatsApp accounted for the largest volume of monthly active users at nearly 77 million users in Russia, which was more than twice as much as the monthly reach of its Russian analog – Telegram. Furthermore, it was the most used messenger application during the self-isolation period in the country exceeding 1.5 million views on March 17, 2020. The number of WhatsApp users was projected to reach 83.9 million by 2025.

Social media usage during the pandemic in Russia

In 2020, significant traffic growth on social media platforms was attributed to the COVID-19 outbreak. As of April 2020, messengers were the most popular means of communication, as per over 90 percent of respondents who worked remotely. Of roughly 60 percent of Russians who reported more frequent usage of social messengers after the pandemic, nearly 90 percent meant to keep the usage levels at the same extent after the abolition of restrictions.