TikTok has reached over 2 billion downloads from the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. The popular video creation app has become a viral sensation over the past year.
Owned by ByteDance, TikTok has seen quite the first quarter in 2020. According to CNET, the mobile app marketing intelligence company Sensor Tower has claimed TikTok has reached and exceeded the 2 billion download mark. TikTok hit this new milestone only five months after reaching 1.5 billion across the Google Play Store and App Store.
Sensor Tower believes that the COVID-19 lockdown has played a part in the rapid rise in popularity. With more users stuck at home, more have been creating content and sharing it online. Content published on TikTok has been consumed around the world. India is the largest contributor to downloads, accounting for 30%. The next highest contributor is China, which accounts for 9.7% of the downloads, and the US with 8.2%.
With TikTok’s popularity being primarily made by the millennial audience, many companies and businesses have begun to utilize the platform’s 15-second long videos to market towards them. From launching in 2016, ByteDance has seen TikTok become the most valuable startup company in the world, according to Bloomberg.
Despite ongoing privacy concerns, users are continuing to pile in. TikTok has received criticism by US lawmakers and military branches. Usage of the app has been banned by the US Army and Navy over suspected security risks. However, TikTok has been working towards effectively being more transparent by opening up its ‘Transparency Centre’ in the US.
