News outlets are producing content custom built for audiences who now use their smartphones more than their laptops to get online.

The constant immediacy of the smartphone mean that iPhones and Androids now edge the laptop as the UK’s go to device for getting online. Statistics such as these are not surprising given the functions the phone can now ably serve. We bank, stream music, watch our favourite T.V. shows and read long form content using our smartphones.

The collective desire of mobile first audiences to easily access news and interest pieces in a digestible format is forcing producers of this content to create innovative ways for us to do this. Notable news outlets such as The Huffington Post, BBC and Channel 4 News are all experimenting with the messaging platform Whatsapp to reach larger numbers. Meeting users on common ground, using a conversational tone to introduce content is both convenient and organic.

Now, purveyors of global economy journalism, Quartz have upped the ante by releasing an app purpose built to imitate the interface users of iOS’s messaging service have grown accustomed to. In this way, journalism can live “natively on your phone”. Quartz will send messages, GIFs and links to those who download the app. However, none of these notifications are intrusive or written by automotive bots. Humans generate the app's voice.

Refinery29 have also launched a dedicated app called This AM that will send eight dedicated news stories each morning that aim to reduce reader’s reliance on Twitter’s endless scroll.

This evolution of the way individuals consume written content will almost certainly result in widespread adoption. It could also increase and maintain readership, while successfully satiating the needs of a content chasing culture.