Sensor Tower, an analytical company based in San Francisco, has published statistics on the most popular mobile applications in the world. The list was created from the statistics carried out at the end of January, 2021.
According to the analytical company, in the past quarter, Telegram jumped to the top of the leaderboard non-gaming applications. Telegram’s rise created a displacement for TikTok from the top position.
In January, according to the analysis, users downloaded and installed Telegram 63 million times, which is 3.8 times more than in January last year.
TikTok, which comes second on the leaderboard, makes the list with 62 million installs.
Signal, Facebook and WhatsApp rounded out the top five in January. WhatsApp was unable to make the top 3, as it has usually been, the reason for this could be traced to the privacy scandal the messaging app had been involved in since the beginning of the year.
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In December, WhatsApp was third place, both in the total standings and in individual ratings for iOS and Android; and in November it took the lead in the total standings for Android.
Signal, on the other hand, was unable to make it to the Top 10 list for December, in all three categories.
Evidently, Telegram and Signal are examples of how users reacted to WhatsApp’s attempts to begin a new privacy regime.
WhatsApp had updated its privacy policy on January 6, 2021. In its announcement, the company added that it is necessary to accept the new terms by February 8, or users would lose access to the service.
However, after numerous public outcry and reaction from users, WhatsApp decided to postpone the deadline for accepting the privacy policy for three months – till May 15.
Sensor Tower is a provider of market intelligence and insights for the global app economy. It is based in San Francisco, and was founded in 2013.