Prevalence of the Use of Mobile Instant Messaging Applications: The Need to Assess Their Usage in Human Factors Investigations

Abstract

Smartphones have become an essential part of our everyday life. Use of mobile instant messaging applications (e.g., WhatsApp, Messenger, iMessage, Kik, Viber, GroupMe, Telegram, Send, Line, and Snapchat) rather than messaging services from cellular service providers have become very popular among users, far outpacing the use of more traditional text messaging. Initial research revealed that the global usage of these modes of communication far outnumber standard text messaging. These instant messaging apps allow users to perform the same function as traditional communication tools (text, voice call, audio message, video call from phone carrier’s number). Additionally, they offer other capabilities such as creating group chats, and sharing photos/videos – in many cases without the need of using data plan coverage from phone carriers. Although instant messaging applications have become very popular, their use for communication may not be considered as often as traditional voice and text message phone records when assessing accident causation due to potential driver distraction from phone usage. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the prevalence of instant messaging applications, the need to consider the usage of instant messaging applications when assessing potential driver and pedestrian distractions due to smartphone usage, and some initial tools for gathering data on usage of some of the applications.