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Are Messaging Apps and Emoji-Driven M&E a Game-Changing Innovation?

This article discusses the use of smartphones for M&E. As the cost of smartphones drops, and as the growth of messaging apps like WhatsApp continues to increase worldwide, the range of possibilities for phone-based M&E is becoming both more diverse and more complex.

The advantages of messaging aps for M&E are:

  • Messaging apps are cheaper
  • Messaging apps offer a wider range of M&E options, bundled together
  • Messaging apps are already the main communication platform in many countries

Disadvantages are:

  • They exclude non-smartphone owners
  • They need mobile broadband coverage
  • They use up more battery life

Last modified: January 9, 2021

Language: English