It’s almost the end of the year and TikTok isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, it would seem that the platform looks to continue its momentum well into 2022, what with it topping the holiday download chart and all. VR and the Metaverse was also in there somewhere, but TikTok, yet again, definitely earned the top spot on App Annie’s latest record. One of the most downloaded apps of all time and THE most downloaded app on Christmas? If you ask us, TikTok is definitely positioned to start off the new year strong and in the lead.
Ending On A Plus-One
First off, regarding overall downloads, TikTok was leading globally on Christmas, ahead of both Facebook and Instagram. Of course there will always be room for Snapchat, as well as the top messaging apps. Meanwhile, Shopee, the Southeast Asian shopping phenomenon, was also gaining momentum among consumers. I mean, they got Jackie Chan to do a Christmas commercial where he actually beat up a group of thugs who were trying to rob him using the power of pre-Christmas sales. Now that’s just raw marketing genius right there.
TikTok editing app CapCut somehow also made it to the top 10, further underlining the app’s influence and reach. In fact, it is projected that TikTok will reach 1.5 billion users sometime during 2022, making it pretty clear that it is indeed the app of choice for young users
If you don’t yet have your own TikTok Strategy yet, or are just listening and looking out for the latest trends, then now’s the perfect time to start. Add those extra considerations to your planning board, and watch as your initial efforts make it easier to expand both reach and ability later on.
Perhaps on a more interesting note are the trends reflected within the ‘Region-specific’ download charts especially within the U.S
As App Annie explains:
“In the US, Oculus was #1 by downloads on Christmas Day as Americans unwrapped new Oculus Virtual Reality (VR) headsets under the tree. This builds off the growing trend for metaverses and immersive experiences.”
About the broader Metaverse shift, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions that it’ll take place within VR, which makes it imperative that Meta see increased take-up of its VR headsets, thus ushering the next stage of digital connection. If Meta can win the VR space, then it can really own the Metaverse.
One more notable key point in the US chart is the ever-popular MMO game, Roblox. Similar to Minecraft, Roblox has become its own enduring platform for young gamers. Moreover, Roblox has allegedly also become a key social connector for young users, providing them an avenue to interact and reconnect with those they’ve been deprived of for around two years because of the pandemic. In-game spending on character skins and other digital products is also high on Roblox, making it somewhat of a suitable framework if you want an idea of how a fully functioning Metaverse would operate.
The Wrap
In the end, it would seem that what we can really derive from App Annie’s charts is that everything will eventually be tied together in the Metaverse, and that important element to be included in such a digital environment is already found in certain apps right now. As such, though a full Metaverse isn’t expected anytime soon, building on cross-compatible assets as early as now will be crucial for when we actually get a working beta environment. This is why apps like ‘ReadyPlayerMe’, is in a good position for when that broader shift does happen.
So, where does TikTok fit into all of this? Well, in a Metaverse sense, anywhere it can, really. The Metaverse, if it’d be anything like how it was described, would be more seamless and encompassing than anything we have presently, meaning that whether you’re a competitor or a partner, so long as you have the means, you can get on the space. Though TikTok might not be as technologically versed as Meta and its host of apps, it certainly holds enough influence and a big enough digital footprint to secure a significant presence within the future-bound Metaverse.
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