A global survey of downloads in 2020 shows TikTok, a video-sharing app developed in China, on top of the list of social media providers for the first time since the study was first conducted in 2018, the Nikkei Asia reported.
Seven of the top 10 most downloaded apps in the world in 2020 are developed by entities based in the United States. Of these, four (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger) are owned by one single company, ranked among the top five.
In Asia (excluding China), TikTok is the second most downloaded app after Facebook, data compiled by the Nikkei Asia from the US-based -- data and analytics platform -- ’App Annie’ show.
Telegram, a messaging app (originally developed in Russia, now based in Germany) that allows users to delete posts, has gained prominence during the pandemic year. The app was a particular hit with protesters in Hong Kong and Thailand who wanted to operate under the state radar.
The app moved from 15th position in 2019 to seventh position in 2020 in Asia (excluding China) while it moved one position up in global (7) rankings among the most downloaded.
Short video apps such as Likee, a Chinese app and competitor to TikTok, are gaining popularity. The app creates short videos that many companies use for marketing, and it ranked eighth in the latest global download league.
Likewise, Snack Video, an app from China's Kuaishou, was the sixth most downloaded in Asia-Pacific, the Nikkei Asia report highlights. Its main feature is live commerce -- a combination of video broadcasting and online shopping. Companies have used it to grow sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The total viewing time for TikTok in the US and UK is longer than that for YouTube, and short videos will continue to attract attention," said Chuzen Kin, marketing manager at App Annie, an app market intelligence company, the Nikkei reported. "In terms of content, music and comedies are becoming more popular," he added.
In India, despite a ban on TikTok, the app's popularity grew overtaking Instagram, becoming the second most popular social network platform in the country, Digital Trends - India, December 2020 report by SimilarWeb revealed in January earlier.
TikTok was among the 200-plus mobile applications (mostly of Chinese origin or being marketed/distributed by entities based in that country) blocked by the Indian government in 2020, citing privacy and data security concerns of Indian citizens.
Based on insights from experts, Moneycontrol earlier reported that the increase in the number of TikTok users or deeper penetration could have been because the ban was immediately applicable only on new installs and existing users could still access the platform.
Also, new users could download the app from various websites, which provide the .apk file (a package file format which allows a mobile app to be installed from unofficial or 'unknown' sources). Users were also able to access the platform through Virtual Private Network (VPN) despite the ban, experts suggested.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
