Facebook Owns Four Out of the Five Most Downloaded Apps Worldwide (thenextweb.com)

An anonymous reader shares a report: Facebook continues to storm the numbers as the company has claimed four out of the five spots for the most downloaded apps across the globe during the last quarter. Interestingly, Netflix still lords over everyone as far as revenue goes. New research by app analytics firm Sensor Tower reveals that WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and Snapchat were the most downloaded apps for the first three months of this year. While the numbers differed across the App Store and Google Play, one thing both platforms shared is that Facebook owned four out of the top five spots for the most downloaded apps worldwide. While Messenger topped the App Store download charts, Facebook headed the race on Google Play.

Comments

Uh oh, this could be a Berlusconi

[TimothyHollins]

This seems like the kind of problem that could potentially give a certain Zucker the power to decide who wins what election and so forth.

If the government should not have the power to censor or direct the flow of information, shouldn't a similar rule be applied to corporations with equal or greater (non-military) power?

I have always assumed the censorship law reflected the balance of power at the time (i.e. there was no other entity that came close to matching the civil power of the government, hence the government had to be "kind" to other opinions), and had Facebook or social media been around then, similar clauses would have been made for them.

Re:Uh oh, this could be a Berlusconi

[pr0fessor]

Actually the most downloaded is a booby prize the real winner is the most pre-installed...

Re:Uh oh, this could be a Berlusconi

[PolygamousRanchKid]

This seems like the kind of problem that could potentially give a certain Zucker the power to decide who wins what election and so forth.

Being that we live in a time of Hollywood remakes now, it's just about time for . . . wait for it . . .

. . . "Citizen Zucker" . . . !

Monopoly really

[parallel_prankster]

FB and messenger are pretty much one and the same. The other two are companies that Facebook bought to continue its dominance. If this does not show monopolization due to corp then I dont know what does!

Re:Monopoly really

[TheCastro1689]

You have to have messenger to send and read messages on a phone. It's annoying as hell. I deleted my Facebook app though, so much more battery life.

Re:Monopoly really

[unrtst]

THIS. This is all I was planning on saying, more or less.
You can't even view facebook messages on a phone via the browser. I'm pretty sure I would have installed the app if I wasn't so stubbornly opposed to forcing stuff on people.

I don't think it's a monopoly practice (as the GP stated). Separating messenger off to its own app is actually a good design, and we should probably give them credit for that. However, comparing its download stats to other stand alone apps is disingenuous, and forcing it on people viewing the website via a browser is, IMO, a dick move.

Re:Monopoly really

[hackel]

Messenger Lite is your friend. I would never install the full-blown, privacy-invading Messenger.

http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/f...

Re:Monopoly really

[Marillion]

The number is artificially high. Two are from acquisitions (instagram and whatsapp) and one is because they split one app into two separate apps (Facebook and Facebook Messenger)

Re:Awesone

[Z00L00K]

I don't even have Netflix and neither any of the listed apps.

Good to get a list of apps to not install though.