TikTok Trumps Facebook to Become the World’s Most Downloaded App

The popularshort-form video platform TikTokhas now become the most downloaded mobile app in the world, overtaking apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. As per a recent report, the Chinese short video app topped the chart as it garnered the most number of downloads all through 2020.

Thereportcomes fromNikkeiAsiathat ranked TikTok at thenumero uno position in terms of the number of downloads. The short-video platform was at the number 4 position last year. However, the Coronavirus-led pandemic attracted various artists and influencers to TikTok to deliver content to their deprived fans. This led the popular app to become the most downloaded app in the world.

As of now, TikTok sits comfortably above Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram that are in the second, third, and fourth positions, respectively. It is the first time that TikTok reached this height since it was first introduced by ByteDance back in 2017.Image: Nikkei Asia

Now, although TikTok is a popular app, especially amongst the Gen-Z population, the video platform has facedseveral criticisms for its securityand its ties with the Chinese government. In fact, its data collection and security policies put the platform in some nasty controversies over the past years.

When the US was ruled by the Trump administration, the government saw TikTok as a threat to national security. As a result, it facedmany obstacles in the Statesas the US government imposed new laws to ban the app in the country. Nonetheless, we recently saw the Biden administrationeradicate the lawsthat had the potential to ban the platform in the country.

While the US did not completely ban the platform,India actually didas the authorities deemed thatTikTok is sharing data of Indian users with Chinese serverswithout their permission. However, as perprevious reports, the video platform islooking to make a comeback to Indiawith a slightly different name.

Moreover, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, hasaddedseveral new featuresincluding TikTok Storiesto lure users and further expand the user base. So yes, going forward, we can expect TikTok to top the chart as itcontinues to garner new usersfor its short-video platform.

Beebom Staff

Bringing the latest in technology, gaming, and entertainment is our superhero team of staff writers. They have a keen eye for latest stories, happenings, and even memes for tech enthusiasts.

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