The world’s hottest iOS app is from China (and it’s not WeChat)
Smashing popularity in Asia propels Bytedance’s Tik Tok to the top
The world’s most downloaded iOS app last quarter wasn’t YouTube, Facebook or Instagram. It was Tik Tok.
Launched in 2016, Tik Tok is sort of like a fusion of Snapchat, Dubsmash and the now-dead Vine. Simple editing tools allow users to make 15-second clips by adding background music and psychedelic visual effects. The app shows an endless feed of video created by more than 100 million users (many are apparently teens) -- ranging from dance routines and silly stunts to random happenings and comedy skits.
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Besides Tik Tok, three other apps from China made the top 10 list. Tencent’s WeChat and QQ took the 7th and 8th spots, while Baidu’s Netflix-like video streaming service iQiyi ranked 9th.
Meanwhile the mobile game list is dominated by the international version of Tencent’s PUBG Mobile. (A second version of the game made only for China, PUBG: Army Attack, ranked 10th). Rules of Survival, another battle royale game from a different Chinese gaming giant, NetEase, came in at number five on the list.
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For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.