With the US elections just around the corner, analysts are growing wary of the risk of misinformation through popular social media platforms. In India’s 2019 election, misinformation grew more personalized, with WhatsApp raising the red flag.
In its forthcoming elections, the United States is looking at a similar risk on a reduced scale, with Whatsapp holding 31% power over the state, as revealed in a recent Stocklytics.com analysis.
Edith Reads, the financial analyst for the website, remarks: “We’ve entered a phase where the strength and impact of social media platforms are under intense scrutiny. Previous electoral events have starkly exposed the alarming speed at which misinformation spreads, fueling apprehensions about the highly publicized social media channels. Whatsapp’s subtle hold in the United States may play a part in swaying undecided voters.”
Social Media Dominance Worldwide
South Africa will experience a notable 96% dominance by WhatsApp in 2024, establishing itself as the largest consumer of the Meta app.
In contrast, Brazil is rapidly approaching South Africa’s figures, with a significant 93% dominance projected for the same period. Following closely is Mexico with a marginal 1% gap, India at 90%, Germany at 87%, the UK at 77%, and France at 66%.
The United States holds the eighth position in WhatsApp dominance in select countries. Despite its significantly lower influence compared to other countries, the app poses a slight risk to the upcoming elections in the US.
In the 2016 elections, Facebook allegedly played a crucial role in influencing the results, serving as the primary tool for disseminating false information. Currently, 81% of smartphone users utilize Facebook Messenger, emphasizing the higher risk the app presents for the upcoming elections. While WhatsApp is less popular than its sister platform, it still carries potential dangers, offering a personalized chat experience that could deeply resonate with its users.
In contrast, China exhibits less concern about WhatsApp influencing governmental policies or procedures due to the app’s prohibition in the country. WeChat is the discreet substitute for WhatsApp in China, commanding a substantial 87% market share, with Tencent QQ following closely at 43%.
Why Does WhatsApp Lack a Significant Following Compared to Other Apps in the US?
While WhatsApp may be end-to-end encrypted, most Americans remain skeptical about its privacy features. WhatsApp allows users to see the last seen and if someone is online or not, and while there is the choice to hide this from viewers, the features don’t sit well with some Americans.
Most Americans opt to use Facebook Messenger and iMessage instead of WhatsApp. Facebook Messenger is increasingly popular due to its extensive history and wide range of communication alternatives, given that it works well with SMS. imesssage also holds a larger share of users, given that most Americans use iPhones.
WhatsApp’s influence in the US is considerably low compared to other apps, but its 30% hold shouldn’t be underestimated, especially with the growing concerns about false information during the election period.
