Instant messaging is the perfect way for when you need to shoot a message off to someone in a heartbeat. With so many options on offer, it can be hard to keep up with which platform you should be on. Fear not, dear reader, for we've taken a dive into the most popular trends for instant messaging and emerged with some key insights. It's clear that users are keen on platforms that offer all-encompassing communication tools with high levels of security. Telegram, Discord, and Viber lead the pack, each with impressive monthly search volumes and competition indexes maxed out at 100. End-to-end encryption is a feature that's not to be missed, as users keep their privacy and sensitive information top of mind. Overall, the direction for instant messaging seems to be all about reliable communication with security and efficiency at its core. So, whether you're a die-hard fan of one platform or dipping your toes in the messaging waters, it's important to stay on top of the hottest trends.