The explosion of interest in mobile messaging platforms has prompted heated competition to secure the largest and most loyal global user base. From LINE’s stickers to WeChat’s partnership with Lionel Messi, there’s a race to innovate, and fast.

As young people flock to WhatsApp, LINE and other chat apps, Facebook struggles to stay relevant. In response, it's created better emoticons – called Stickers – that are part of a deeper shift towards pictures as a primary way to communicate.

Mobile dating app Tinder simplifies an increasingly complicated hookup culture, appealing to online dating sceptics and millennials alike by minimising the chances of rejection.

Amidst endless sexting scandals, Snapchat has created a photo-sharing app where each image expires after ten seconds of viewing, and in doing so, creates a safe space for friends to express themselves through images without fear of consequence.