Evolution of digital communication from SMS to WhatsApp

Before the dominance of WhatsApp, digital communication relied heavily on SMS and instant messaging services like MSN Messenger. During the era of SMS, users faced character limits and per-message costs, which led to the widespread use of abbreviations such as ‘k’, ‘q’, and ‘tqm’ to save space and money.

Communication evolved significantly with the introduction of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), Facebook Messenger, and eventually WhatsApp. These platforms shifted the landscape by introducing group chats, voice notes, emojis, and video calls, removing the financial constraints associated with traditional text messaging.

MSN Messenger served as a primary internet meeting point, featuring unique tools like ‘nudges’ to grab attention. For many users in the 2000s, accessing these services often required visiting internet cafes and managing limited connection time.