I don&#x27;t know where the parent lives in Brazil, but the supermarket chain comment definitely has not been my experience in upper-middle class Rio de Janeiro neighborhoods.<p>People use Whatsapp instead of SMS because it simply is a better user experience, specially for sending media and group chat, not for showing off, or keeping in touch with relatives abroad. Phone companies began offering &quot;free whatsapp&quot; even in pre-paid plans because it because it became very popular, as a way to attract costumers, not the other way around.