The Rise of Mobile App Use: A Growing Trend
Internet users have never been so connected to their smartphones
According to a recent study by Sensor Tower, mobile users spent over two trillion hours on social media applications in 2024, an increase of 6% on the previous year. A trend that shows no sign of abating.
Social Media and Messaging Applications Dominate
The study, entitled “State of Mobile 2025,” reveals that social media and messaging applications continued to dominate the mobile landscape.
Streaming Platforms and Social Networks
Among the apps with which consumers spend most of their time, social networks, messaging apps, and browsers are the top three.
Top Apps in Each Category
- Social media: TikTok
- Messaging apps: WhatsApp
- Browsers: Google Chrome
Revenue Trends
In terms of revenue, video streaming apps rank ahead of social media. “Streaming apps tend to monetize through subscriptions, and the space remains very competitive with nine different apps accounting for at least 3% of overall streaming revenue (and none above 15%).”
Global Growth and Saturation
When you combine the time spent on social media and messaging applications, users spent three trillion hours in 2024, compared with 2.8 trillion the previous year. This growth is notably due to growing use in India, whose time spent on social media apps has more than doubled since 2021.
However, some markets are showing signs of saturation. In the USA and the UK, time spent on social media applications decreased slightly in 2024.
Artificial Intelligence Apps Gain Popularity
Artificial intelligence apps such as ChatGPT or Character AI have performed well this year, posting over 300% growth in time spent over the year. Consumers spent over seven billion hours familiarising themselves with these new technologies. This kind of app could easily make it into the top ten in terms of overall consumer spending by next year, according to the study’s authors.
Conclusion
The study highlights the growing trend of mobile app use, with social media and messaging applications dominating the landscape. As new technologies emerge, such as artificial intelligence, it will be interesting to see how they shape the future of mobile app use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the average time spent on mobile apps per person in 2024?
A: Over 500 hours per person.
Q: Which app topped the social media category in 2024?
A: TikTok.
Q: Which app was the fastest-growing in 2024?
A: ChatGPT.