Stop Sending Multiple Messages: Why WhatsApp & Co. Need Better Chat Etiquette

Smartphone users in Germany send an average of 34 chat messages every day, contributing to a daily national total of 2.83 billion messages across apps like WhatsApp and Signal, according to market analysis data from the industry association VATM.

Daily Message Volume Reaches 2.83 Billion in Germany

The total volume of daily chat messages in Germany has more than doubled since 2018, driven by wider technology access and shifting communication habits. If this linear growth continues, projections indicate that daily message volume will surpass 5 billion by the year 2035, reaching more than 60 messages per person daily.

This surge stands in sharp contrast to the early days of mobile messaging when users communicated via SMS. In the era of the 19-cent text message and strict 160-character limits, senders carefully edited their thoughts to fit a single message and control costs. Modern messaging apps removed these financial barriers, allowing free, continuous communication.

The Impact of High-Frequency Chatting

The rise in volume often manifests as rapid-fire message bursts sent in quick succession, triggering constant notification sounds for recipients who assume an emergency is underway. Opening the messenger frequently reveals only trivial updates or fragmented thoughts split across multiple alerts.

While users can mute specific contacts to stop the disruption, silencing notifications risks missing actual emergencies. To address this friction, it is suggested that senders compose a single, complete message before hitting send, or utilize built-in message editing features to update existing texts instead of dispatching new ones.

Real-Time Conversations Versus Segmented Updates

Rapid messaging serves a functional purpose when both participants are actively engaged in a live, simultaneous conversation. Real-time exchanges—where users watch typing indicators and reply instantly—create a natural dialogue that feels close and engaging.

Problems arise when users fail to distinguish between active real-time chats and asynchronous updates. Sending fragmented thoughts outside of an active conversation leads to disruptive vibrations, particularly in group chats where multiple participants generate a continuous stream of alerts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the daily chat message volume in Germany in 2018?

Market analysis data from the industry association VATM shows that daily message volume in 2018 was less than half of today’s figures.

How much would today’s chat volume cost under historical SMS pricing?

At current chat frequencies, communicating at historical rates of 19 cents per SMS or early flat-rate tiers of 100 messages for 9.99 euros would exceed 100 euros per month per user.

What feature do modern messengers offer to correct sent messages without triggering new alerts?

Major messaging apps now allow users to edit existing messages after sending them, enabling senders to add forgotten thoughts without generating a new notification sound for the recipient.