Are you looking for a direct communication channel to potential and existing customers? Check! A marketing solution that drives community and commerce? Check! A messaging platform with out-of-reach reach, owned by one of the world’s biggest tech companies? Check!

Summary

Facebook Messenger has a lot to say about it. Honestly, we think this is one of the least used resources available to a business, especially given the rise of social commerce and audiences that place more value on genuine communication and customer service.

If you don’t use instant messaging in your business, perhaps these Facebook Messenger statistics can push you to join the platform to attract clicks, trades and happy customers.

General Facebook Messenger statistics

Facebook Messenger was launched in August 2011

Messenger grew from the original Facebook Chat functionality and evolved into its own product in 2011, making the instant messaging platform 11 years old in 2022.

More than 3 billion people expected to use messaging apps in 2022

Whether they’re DMing their favorite brand on Messenger or chatting with their latest crush on WhatsApp, proof that messaging apps are prevalent among cell phone users (and nearly a third of the world’s population) is in the pudding.

Facebook Messenger is very important. The app is a cross-platform line of communication with customers (obviously!) with people they’re connected to via Facebook or Instagram.

Messenger has been downloaded 5.4 billion times since 2014

Messenger’s parent company, Meta, dominates the top-downloaded apps from 2014-2021, with Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger totaling a staggering 20.1 billion downloads.


Source: eMarketer

So what does the dominance of Meta mean for social media marketing?

Our opinion is that it is important to remember that each platform under the Meta umbrella has its own beast. For example, an audience hooked on Instagram is completely different from an audience that spends most of their time interacting with Facebook or Messenger, and campaigns need to be tailored to specific channels and audiences to achieve successful results.

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Facebook Messenger user statistics

Messenger has about 1 billion monthly active users (MAUs)

Woah, 988 million people log into the app monthly to interact with their friends and family, connect with their favorite brands, and make and receive calls.

Messenger is where nearly one-eighth of the world’s population hangs out, and for marketers, this is a significant volume of people who can actively engage with and target ad campaigns.

In the US, 55.7% of Messenger’s user base is women, and the remaining 44.3% is men. Something to think about when using Messenger to interact with customers.

Forget marketing to 13-17 year olds on Messenger

In the US, Facebook Messenger is the least popular among 13-17 year olds; this means younger demographics avoid the platform; this is something to keep in mind when creating campaigns.

Just shy of a billion users, Messenger sits behind TikTok, WeChat, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and Facebook in terms of active users.

2.6% of internet users say Messenger is their favorite platform

Given that the internet is used by more than 4.6 billion people, this 2.6% figure means roughly 119 million people rated Messenger above Pinterest, Snapchat and Discord.


Chart: Favorite Social Media Platforms

Source: Moyens I/O Digital Trends Report

82% of US adults say Messenger is their most used messaging app

Does this insanely high percentage mean that Messenger is more popular in the US than WhatsApp? Do marketers need to watch out for Americans using Messenger for communication and meeting audiences where they are?

Facebook Messenger is the third-ranked application in terms of monthly active users.

If you’re running campaigns on apps with a low number of active users, you’re going to have a hard time getting reasonable returns. Fortunately, Messenger has the third-highest volume of people signing into the platform monthly, rounding out the top four along with other Meta features including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.


Chart: App Annie App Ranking: Active Users (Facebook Messenger in third place)

Source: Moyens I/O Digital Trends Report

Messenger is the 7th most downloaded app of 2021

TikTok (not surprisingly!) took number one and was followed closely by Instagram and Facebook to round out the top three.

We’re pretty comfortable that the Facebook Messenger app isn’t very high on the list because the data shows that downloads have been on a downward trend since 2015, suggesting that people are already downloading the app on their devices rather than Facebook Messenger falling out of favor.

Facebook Messenger usage statistics

Average time spent on Messenger is 3 hours per month.

To put this usage in broader context, users spend the same amount of time scrolling through Telegram and Snapchat. YouTube is the app where users spend the most time per month, with an average time spent per month of 23.7 hours.

People send 21 billion photos on Messenger every month

Photo sharing is just one of the many features of this powerful app as people and businesses around the world connect with each other to share content.

US adults to spend 24 minutes a day on mobile messaging apps by 2022

The number of minutes US adults spend on messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp increased from 18 minutes in 2018 to 24 minutes in 2022. The 33% increase is largely due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, which has shifted people. to other forms of communication to interact with business, brands and connections.

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Additionally, this increase shows that people are moving away from more traditional digital communication methods such as text messages and email to communicate.


Chart: Mobile messaging apps, Average time spent in the US, 2018-2022

Source: eMarketer

Facebook Messenger stats for business

40 million businesses use Facebook Messenger

Combined with Messenger ads, this makes the platform one of the fastest growing channels to reach and engage consumers.

1 billion messages are sent between individuals and businesses every month on Messenger

Messenger’s high volume indicates that businesses are using Facebook Messenger to engage with customers, provide next-level service, and build community and engagement with Messenger.

Facebook Messenger has 33,000 active bots

Bots fall into one of two different categories: chatbots that help you streamline your business’ communication strategy, and bots that are just annoying and do things like spam people.

We are big fans of chatbots and not much like other types of bots.

Chatbots are a great strategy for marketers to use to help provide a channel of engagement for customers and save time and resources by answering frequently asked consumer questions.

Also, Facebook Messenger chatbots help automate sales. With 83% of consumers saying they will buy or purchase products in their messaging chat, now is the time to increase the use of chatbots in your business to drive further growth.

Want to learn more about how chatbots (a good kind of bot!) can help you increase your response times, sell more and take your customer service to the next level? Check out the Complete Guide to Using Facebook Chatbots for Business.

Facebook Messenger ad statistics

Potential ad reach for Messenger almost 1 billion people

Okay, 987.7 million to be exact, but who’s counting? Advertising on Messenger can lead to an above-average conversion rate as personalization and direct marketing become more popular.

Ads in Messenger will mostly reach men aged 25-34

Almost 20% of Facebook Messenger’s target audience ranks first to receive Messenger ads. But ladies, don’t panic! The 24-34 women group is the second most accessed group of people, with 13.3% of women being reached through advertisements.

If you’re in the 65+ range, only 1.9% of women and 1.7% of men are served Messenger ads.


Chart: Facebook Messenger Ad Audience Statistics

Source: Moyens I/O Digital Trends Report

Countries with the highest eligibility access rates are located outside of NA and EMEA

Vietnam (68.6%), New Zealand (66.2%) and the Philippines (66%) are coming! These are the top 3 countries with the highest ad reach potential compared to their total population aged 13 and over.

Canada and the US are among the lowest rated countries, with only 2.0% and 2.4% of the population potentially reachable with Messenger ads.

So if you’re setting up campaigns to increase clicks and commerce using Facebook Messenger, consider advertising outside of North America initially.

India is the country with the highest Messenger ad audience

Messenger ads have the potential to reach 11.2% of the population, followed closely by Brazil and Mexico.

Whether you’re an established brand or just getting started with social media, don’t underestimate the power of Facebook Messenger as part of a holistic social media marketing strategy. With the rise of chatbots and social commerce predicted to be a major trend in 2022, there’s never been a better time to include Messenger in your campaigns.

Increase your online and in-store sales with Heyday by Moyens I/O’s Facebook Messenger chatbot. A chatbot improves your customer’s shopping experience while allowing your service team to focus on higher-value interactions.

Get a free Heyday demo