Individuals at the moment are spending extra time in TikTok than they’re in Fb, whereas the typical American can be now spending extra time on their cell gadget than they’re watching TV.
That is in line with the most recent State of Mobile report from cell app intelligence company App Annie, which supplies an outline of the important thing cell app developments and shifts over the previous 12 months.
The info relies on App Annie’s data tracking, which isn’t as dependable as official knowledge posted by the businesses themselves. However it’s indicative sufficient to offer an outline of comparative efficiency available in the market.
You possibly can obtain the complete, 54-page App Annie State of Cellular Report here, however this is a take a look at a number of the key notes and shifts.
First off, as you may count on, the typical hours spent per day on cell units elevated considerably in 2020, throughout all measured areas.
That is smart. Amid the COVID-19 lockdowns and mitigation efforts, folks had been searching for alternate types of leisure, and plenty of appeared to their cell gadget to remain linked, knowledgeable and to spend a few of that additional leisure time they discovered themselves with.
However importantly, App Annie notes that point spent on cell units now truly surpasses time spent watching TV, on common.
“The typical American watched 3.7 hours of stay TV a day, whereas they spent 4.0 hours on their cell gadget in H2 2020.”
That, too, shouldn’t be overly stunning, as developments have been leaning this manner for a while. However when it comes to advertising method, it is value noting that TV is not the first supply of leisure, with cell facilitating extra engaged time and utilization.
When it comes to social media apps particularly, App Annie’s knowledge as soon as once more underlines the staggering progress of TikTok.
In line with the report, folks spent extra time utilizing TikTok than they did Fb in 2020.

Fb, the corporate, nonetheless dominates the general utilization lists, with Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp making up the rest of the highest 5 most-used apps, when it comes to time spent. However TikTok’s progress is simple.
As per the report:
“TikTok’s common month-to-month time spent per person grew sooner than practically each different app analyzed, together with 70% within the US and 80% within the UK – surpassing Fb. TikTok is on monitor to hit 1.2 billion energetic customers in 2021.”
Given the market dominance of Fb, TikTok’s rise is especially wonderful to see. Fb was ultimately in a position to quell the growth of Snapchat (by replicating Tales), and has fended off varied different opponents within the house. However TikTok has continued to go from energy to energy – regardless of bans, legal challenges, investigations, and so on.
That meteoric progress is the important thing purpose why each Fb and Google (by way of YouTube) are working to copy the app’s core performance as finest they will, nevertheless they will, inside their very own apps.

App Annie’s report additionally seems on the rise in streaming, with video utilization additionally seeing a giant soar in 2020.

The info exhibits that 40% extra hours had been streamed on cell units all year long, compared to 201. Which, once more, is smart, given the worldwide lockdowns – however that elevated consumption could result in new routine developments, and alter the main target of advert {dollars} within the years forward.
YouTube was the highest video platform, with 6x larger time spent per person than it is nearest video rival, in Netflix.

After all, that is not a direct comparability, given the breadth of YouTube’s utilization exterior of simply streaming video. However nonetheless, the figures underline the dominance of YouTube within the video house, and because the platform continues to broaden its slate of on-demand films and content material, it is going to additional strengthen its maintain on viewers consideration within the house.
App Annie additionally notes the rise in eCommerce, which could possibly be a transformative shift for consumption habits.

As varied analysts have famous, the pandemic has accelerated the expansion of eCommerce by years, bringing ahead what was anticipated to be a extra gradual shift in consumption habits. That may have main implications for retailers, as a result of now that individuals are extra accustomed to purchasing on-line, many will not return to their pre-COVID habits, even once they’re in a position.
And that could possibly be of explicit profit for Instagram and Pinterest, in line with App Annie’s knowledge.

As you’ll be able to see right here, world downloads of Instagram and Pinterest worldwide “grew 50% and 20% YoY, respectively”. Each have vital alternative to faucet into the eCommerce shift – which additionally represents new potential for entrepreneurs to attach with these rising, engaged, and purchase-ready audiences.
When it comes to total social app utilization, Fb nonetheless clearly dominates:

However once more, TikTok’s energy is important, whereas Snapchat stays a key software for connecting youthful audiences.
Certainly, App Annie’s knowledge exhibits that:
“Within the US and UK, Gen Z had the best affinity for Snapchat and Twitch, respectively.”
It is probably not the cool new child on the block anymore, and it could not have the general utilization numbers of Fb’s apps. However Snapchat stays a key connector for youthful audiences, whereas Twitch has continued to develop with the regular rise of gaming.
There is a heap extra knowledge within the full App Annie report, together with industry-specific app evaluation and perception, offering a variety of beneficial and informative pointers to your 2021 technique.
You possibly can obtain the complete App Annie State of Cellular 2021 report here.