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Comment by rubber_duck | Hacker News Reader

Also Telegram (unless I missed the type of apps you're comparing ? I really only use messaging aspect of all of these)

I think he meant app that was a competitor on features but ALSO with a significant user base amongst the non-tech non-domain-specific population.

I think Line, WeChat and a few others like that could qualify too, although they all seem very regional.

Right. I just don’t really use telegram that’s why I didn’t mention it, although of course it is a good app! It is just doing exactly what WhatsApp is doing (feature wise) minus the big user base, which is it‘s downfall

The thing about these sorts of apps is that if your network doesn't use it, then its _not_ good.

It's miles ahead of WhatsApp feature wise, except for properly implemented end-to-end encryption, of course. WhatsApp is a joke, I still don't understand why it became so popular.

WhatsApp became popular by being one of the first and by being available absolutely everywhere.

Telegram reported 200 million active monthly users 1 year ago. It's not at the WhatsApp or Facebook messenger level, for sure, but that's clearly a significant user base.

https://telegram.org/blog/200-million

Telegram is really, really, really, really popular with furries.

I haven't encountered another group of people who so ardently use Telegram.

It's reasonably well-separated from IRL identity, so long as you use a burner number and not your IRL number.

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