Most Popular Instant Messengers 1998-2026

Welcome to WorldWideData! In this video, we track the complete history and race of the world's most popular instant messengers and chat applications from 1998 all the way to 2026. Watch the legendary era of ICQ, AOL IM, and Yahoo! Messenger give way to the massive rise of MSN Messenger, followed by the modern smartphone era dominated by WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram. Which app holds the crown today? Let's dive into the data! If you love retro tech and data animations, don't forget to like and subscribe!