App Economy Booms as Instagram Tests New Age Verification Methods
The global app industry reaches record highs in spending and downloads, while Instagram rolls out new age verification tools. Consumers now spend more time on mobile apps than watching TV.
The global app economy continues to expand at a rapid pace, with consumer spending across iOS, Google Play, and third-party Android stores reaching $170 billion in 2021. Mobile downloads grow by 5% to hit 230 billion, while mobile ad spend increases by 23% to reach $295 billion. Consumers now spend more time using mobile apps than watching television, with the average American dedicating 4.1 hours daily to their smartphones compared to just 3.1 hours watching TV.
This massive engagement translates into significant revenue for top developers, as 233 apps and games generate over $100 million in consumer spend last year. Thirteen individual apps even surpass the $1 billion revenue mark, representing a 20% increase from the number of top-earning apps in 2020. In heavily engaged markets like Brazil, Indonesia, and South Korea, users spend over five hours per day inside mobile applications.
Amid this booming industry, Instagram introduces new methods for verifying user ages to enforce age-appropriate restrictions. The social media platform tests options like video selfies, government ID submission, and social vouching from adult friends for users attempting to change their age from under 18 to 18 or older. When users provide a passport or driver's license, Meta stores the identification on its servers for 30 days before permanently deleting it.