Skip to main content

Polls show e-mail popularity waning, Facebook Messages ready to fill in

FB messagesFacebook is still in the process of rolling out its Messages application, but a few recent studies and surveys already bode well for the social network’s new feature. A recent comScore study revealed that Web-based e-mail is losing popularity, declining 8-percent in the past year. Naturally, 12-to-17 year olds were most likely to ditch the archaic communication tool last year, closely followed by 18-to-24 years olds. 25-to-34 year olds also joined in the mutiny, which seems more significant given that many in this bracket have entered the job market and graduated from college.

Facebook profusely claimed its Messages system would not be an “e-mail killer” – it’s looking like it could simply be a replacement. As more and more consumers of various age groups forsake e-mail in favor of other communication devices (instant messages, social media outlets, and texting), there could be an opportunity for a new Web-based “e-mail” platform to succeed. And it’s poised to be Facebook.

According to a recent poll, 22 percent of UK participants will switch to Facebook’s upcoming Messages service. The social network explained it plans to incorporate various communication systems into the messaging client, creating a virtual collection of users’ digital conversations. So what do you get when electronic communication becomes increasingly popular, Facebook (whose user registration reaches staggering numbers) integrates these methods, all while e-mail usage plummets? A sure thing.

Also helpful is the 70 percent of Facebook’s 500 million users currently sending messages on the site. But Facebook was probably right when it said it wasn’t going to be stealing Gmail’s business, it’s just stepping in to claim its wayward users. We’re still waiting for the Messages application to fully hit, but the numbers show the gap is there for it to fill.

Editors' Recommendations

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
Best gaming laptop deals: Portable gaming rigs from $600
The Alienware x17 R2 Gaming Laptop viewed from the back.

If you're keen to game while on the move, you need a sweet gaming laptop. Regular laptop deals won't cut it as you need something with a dedicated graphics card and maybe even something with some cool gamer looks too. Gaming laptops aren't cheap but that doesn't mean there aren't some great deals around. If you're looking to invest in a cool new gaming laptop, we've picked out the current best deals around right now. We've considered different budgets as well as different requirements so there's something for everyone below. Take a look and see what appeals to you.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 -- $600, was $900

Known as one of the best laptop brands for both gaming and business purposes, Lenovo knows how to make a robust system. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 packs a lot into its great price tag. It has an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor, 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage. More storage space would be nice but if you're fine just having a few games installed at once, this won't slow you down. It also has an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card which is great for playing the latest games if you don't mind tweaking the detail level. As well as that, there's a 15.6-inch full HD screen, white backlit keyboard and a cool-looking style to the laptop.

Read more
Why is my printer offline? How to solve the most common printer problems
Ccleaner

When you need to print a label to prepare a shipment or output some documents for an important meeting, finding that your normally reliable printer is offline can be incredibly frustrating. Often you print something because it needs to be shipped or taken somewhere. When trouble arises, you're delayed and need a quick solution.

Even the best printers can run into trouble occasionally. Let's look at some common printer problems and how you can get it back online again.
The universal solution

Read more
The best laptops you can buy, tested and rated by experts
dell xps 13 9315 review 06

Our expert laptop reviewers have tested and reviewed more than 500 laptops over the years, searching for the best of the best. But to earn the crown as the best laptop in 2023, it needs to have it all: gorgeous design, killer performance, a productive keyboard, long-lasting battery life, and much more.

Each of the laptops below has been vetted thoroughly by us here at Digital Trends. Whether it's an affordable Chromebook or a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, they've all been subjected to real-world testing, as well as benchmark and battery tests, to collect data to objectively pit them against each other.

Read more