Bitkom survey: Germans overwhelmed by messenger chat volumes

A survey by the IT industry association Bitkom reveals that 87 percent of Germans use private messenger apps. Among these users, 72 percent report feeling overwhelmed by the volume of messages, with 20 percent stating this happens frequently.

Demographic differences are notable: 78 percent of users aged 65 and older feel overwhelmed, compared to 68 percent of those aged 16 to 29. To cope, 69 percent of users occasionally leave messages unanswered. This often leads to social friction; 73 percent report feeling guilty when they cannot respond immediately, and 75 percent apologize for delays.

While 87 percent of users generally show understanding when others do not respond instantly, patience has limits. For 69 percent of respondents, extremely long response times from friends are a reason to let a contact fade or to terminate the relationship entirely.