American Messenger Imo Gains Traction in Russia Amid Crackdown on Alternatives
Russian users are flocking to the American messaging app Imo as the government intensifies restrictions on established platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. Imo's user base in Russia surged from 417,000 to nearly 10 million in the year ending December 2025, according to Mediascope data.
The shift comes as Roskomnadzor, Russia's telecom watchdog, escalates its crackdown on non-compliant messaging services. WhatsApp's domain was recently removed from DNS servers, while Telegram faces throttling and potential blocking by April. These platforms have been accused of failing to remove banned content as required by Russian law.
Imo's rise highlights the growing demand for communication alternatives in Russia's tightening digital landscape. The app's less conspicuous profile and technical features may be contributing to its unexpected popularity among users seeking reliable messaging options outside state-backed solutions like Max.