Facebook has released a new study showing how messaging apps are changing the way we communicate.

Here are the highlights.

Message in a bottle

Facebook surveyed users in 14 markets, and found that most prefer messaging to chatting, both one-on-one and in groups.

This preference applied across age ranges, with Millennials, Gen Xers, and Boomers all preferring to message.

Brand new world

Every day, users send businesses 1 billion messages on Facebook Messenger.

Over half of those surveyed said they're more likely to shop with a business that has a chat app, while 67% said they expect to increase their messages to brands over the next two years.

Local learnings

In Australia, users like to message about the following topics: Social Plans, Personal Updates, and People they Know.

In Japan, shopping is high on the list. In Indonesia, it’s movies.