Observed Signal · May 24, 2026 · Usage Trend · Source: t3n · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
SMS Usage Falls 95% in Germany
A t3n report summarises official and industry data showing a collapse in SMS usage in Germany: from about 60 billion messages in 2012 to roughly 2.9 billion last year, a decline of over 95 percent. The drop is attributed to widespread smartphone adoption and free instant-messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Threema, Facebook Messenger). Bitkom data cited in the article says 86% of Germans owned a smartphone in 2026 and average daily smartphone use is 180 minutes (216 minutes for ages 16–29). WhatsApp is reported to have about 60 million daily users in Germany (~80% of internet users). The Bundesnetzagentur provided the SMS and fixed-line statistics; the article also notes banks and companies are moving away from SMS-based verification toward alternative methods such as biometrics. Vodafone Germany’s head Marcel de Groot commented that SMS is losing relevance, especially among younger users.
Large decline in SMS usage signals a long-term shift in mobile communication channels and verification methods that affects how brands, banks and services reach users, but it is not a platform policy or technical release that would substantially reshape AdTech infrastructure.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- In 2012 Germany saw about 60 billion SMS sent.
- Bundesnetzagentur reported about 2.9 billion SMS were sent in Germany in the most recent year.
- Bitkom: 86 percent smartphone penetration in Germany in 2026; average smartphone use 180 minutes/day (216 minutes for 16–29 age group).
- WhatsApp reported to have roughly 60 million daily users in Germany (~80% of internet users).
- Vodafone Germany (Marcel de Groot) confirmed SMS use is declining; fixed-line voice minutes fell to 47 billion, 10 billion fewer than in 2024.
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Internet Usage in Germany Declines After Years of Growth
The Postbank Digital Study 2026 finds that average internet usage in Germany fell to 67.4 hours per week, down about five hours versus 2025. The decline is driven mainly by under-40s who are intentionally reducing smartphone usage; weekly mobile time dropped from 25.7 to 23.9 hours, and smartphone time for under-40s fell by three hours to 31 hours. Social media usage (e.g., Instagram and TikTok) fell from 71% to 64% regular use. Despite the decline, AI is cited as the leading reason (56%) that respondents who plan to increase usage expect to do so; 38% already use AI tools like ChatGPT. The representative survey polled 3,050 people between April and May 2026 and was weighted to the 2022 German microcensus.
MMS to be discontinued across Germany on June 30
German mobile operators will fully discontinue MMS on 30 June 2026. Vodafone had already switched off MMS on 17 January 2023; Telekom, O2 and 1&1 will remove the service at the end of June. MMS, introduced in the early 2000s to carry photos and small media files, never achieved mass adoption and declined rapidly as smartphones and internet messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Threema, Facebook Messenger) became dominant. Vodafone usage data show a peak in December 2012 (13 million MMS vs 1.5 billion SMS for Vodafone customers) and more than a 96% drop in MMS use by shutdown. SMS volumes in Germany fell from about 60 billion in 2012 to 2.9 billion in the last reported year. The industry is positioning Rich Communication Services (RCS) — Universal Profile 4.0 finalised by GSMA in March 2026 — as the successor for richer carrier messaging.
German Companies Increasingly Use AI in Recruiting
A Bitkom survey reveals that German companies are increasingly integrating AI into their recruiting processes. Currently, 12% use AI in applications, primarily for writing job postings (9%) and initial screening (6%). AI-led interviews are still rare, used by only 2%, but 17% are open to it. Bitkom calls for clearer regulations under the EU AI Act to provide legal certainty. The survey also shows digitalization is widespread: all companies accept digital applications, 73% have talent pools, 50% offer video interviews, and 37% use digital assessment centers.
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