Mobile phones have become a pervasive part of our lives. They can be found in the hands of billions of people around the world. Research shows that the vast majority of time that people spend on their phones is spent on apps, accounting for at least 40 minutes of a person’s day.
This is different than it once was. Smart phones were once primarily used for directions and internet browsing. However, mobile app development companies have come a long way in the past several years. Along with ever-popular social media apps, there are games and virtual reality apps that you could get lost in for hours. It’s convenient to have it all at your fingertips!
Since people spend so much time on their apps, it begs the question: which app is downloaded and used most often?
Homemade music videos
The answer to this question changes from time to time based on trending content and interests of consumers. Right now, the most popular app is a Chinese music video app called TikTok, also known as Douyin in China.
Essentially, the app lets you make homemade music videos. You can take a short video, edit it, and add music and special effects. You can use filters similar to those from Snapchat or Instagram to complete the video and then share it with friends.
The app is fun to use and has sharing capabilities, which lends to its popularity. It allows consumers to take popular songs and create their own clever content. Perhaps importantly, it also increases the likelihood that a person’s content could go viral. Since everyone wants that elusive 15 minutes (or more) of fame, this is naturally very attractive.
TikTok flattens competition
TikTok’s popularity is impressive. When it was first launched in the United States in the beginning of 2018, it had more than 49 million downloads within just three months. More recently, during the month of October 2018, TikTok’s installs surpassed Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. That group of apps make up 29.7 percent of total app downloads. This is truly impressive because Instagram has been the fastest-growing social media app for several years running. It looks like it has competition now.
Download data shows that while older adults are experimenting with TikTok, it’s most popular with teenagers and young adults, which isn’t surprising given the social nature of the app. The app is doing even better in China, which recently reported 500 million daily active users of their version of the app, Douyin. It’s also available in 150 countries with millions more active users.
The next social media giant
Because of the viral nature of this app, experts are predicting that it will become even bigger and more like a very niche-specific social media platform that could grow as fast as Instagram.
“TikTok is becoming more and more interesting. I am starting to see more Vine-style type content. I think TikTok is great in terms of promoting record labels, artists, their albums as well as creating brand-awareness campaigns. TikTok has a ways to go, but I do think they are headed in the right direction,” Chris Strong, account director at influencer marketing agency Viral Nation, shared with DigiDay.
Marketing agencies are seeing the possibilities of wanting to buy TikTok likes for advertisements on Tik Tok, as businesses look for yet more ways to engage with their customers. Ideally, the advertisements will be tastefully used and consumers can continue to enjoy the app uninterrupted.