Using Messaging Apps in Audience Research: An Approach to Study Everyday Information and News Use Practices

Abstract

Messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger are an essential part of people’s communication practices, but have thus far received only little attention as a tool for data collection. In this article, it is argued that using established messaging apps in audience research can help to better make sense of everyday information and news use practices. Being already integrated into most smartphone users’ daily routines, providing easy-to-use solutions for the sharing of rich and context-sensitive data as well as an instant feedback channel, messaging apps make the documentation of one’s information/news use a familiar and convenient experience for participants that can easily be incorporated into their day-to-day life. Drawing on insights from two research projects focussed on young adults’ information and news use practices, it is illustrated how messaging apps can be utilized in qualitative and mixed-methods diary study designs. Reflecting on methodological and epistemological issues, the advantages and challenges of using messaging apps in audience research are discussed from the researchers’ and the participants’ perspectives.

Keywords:

• Audience research
• news use
• messaging apps
• experience
• diary method
• mobile media
• data collection

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 More generally, following Schnauber-Stockmann and Karnowski (2020), the approach could be described as a qualitative, mobile self-report data collection method in repeated measurement designs.

2 The fact that participants were asked to provide the data (only) once or twice a day does not imply that they should not document the experiences of interest throughout the entire day. Indeed, in both studies, participants were encouraged to take notes/screenshots immediately after their experiences.

3 Participants repeatedly pointed out that they have muted push notifications for Instagram Direct, thus making the reminders less likely to be noticed.

4 One participant provided screenshots during the documentation phase but did not partake in the interview.

5 While there would be the possibility to use scheduling apps that allow auto-sending WhatsApp messages at specific times, there is still the need for the researcher to be responsive during the documentation phase.

6 Of course, one also needs to consider the overall reach of specific messaging apps in a country when deciding for or against their use. In Germany, 64% of the population aged 14 and above use messaging apps such as WhatsApp on a daily basis (91% of 14- to 29-years old, see Beisch, Koch, and Schäfer 2019, 381), suggesting broad applicability of the approach.