Evaluating X's Position in the App Rankings Amid Meta's Dominance

Elon Musk’s X team continues to tout its app as “the #1 news app in more than 140 countries worldwide,” yet its overall download numbers are not keeping pace, with Meta continuing to dominate the app rankings globally.

According to Sensor Tower’s latest data for Q1 2024, Instagram led as the most downloaded app, followed by TikTok, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Meta’s influence extends further with Threads at 11th place and Messenger at 12th place. In contrast, X ranks 25th in the “Top Free – Overall” category.

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While X maintains visibility and popularity on a broader scale, it doesn’t match the performance Elon Musk and his team claim, especially when highlighting its status as the top news app, a narrative meant to unsettle traditional media.

The claim that X is the most downloaded news app echoes Twitter’s strategy in 2016. Twitter, facing sluggish growth compared to Facebook and Instagram, rebranded itself in the App Store from “Social Media” to “News,” capitalizing on high downloads previously dominated by news aggregators like CNN and Fox News. This strategic move aimed to avoid direct comparisons with social media giants.

However, this tactic didn’t significantly alter Twitter’s competitive landscape then, and similarly, X’s identification as a news app doesn’t align with its categorization on Google Play, highlighting a disconnect in perception versus functionality.

Elon Musk’s approach to framing X as a news app mirrors Twitter’s strategy, attempting to reshape market perception. Yet, in comparison to other social media platforms, X faces a considerable gap, with Meta’s platforms consistently outperforming.

Looking ahead, X still holds potential, with 250 million daily active users engaging with its updates. However, Musk’s strategic pivots, focusing on AI, payments, and original content, have yet to resonate broadly, leaving Meta’s dominance unchallenged.

In conclusion, while X navigates its future trajectory, Meta’s current leadership in the app market underscores the competitive challenges ahead, reminiscent of Twitter’s past rebranding efforts.