TikTok records sharp fall in number of downloads in the past two months

While the popularity of TikTok has always been skyrocketing in India, it has witnessed a fall in its downloads in April and May by 34% and 28% respectively as compared to the previous two months. 

In March, TikTok was downloaded 35.7 million times followed by 23.5 million in April and 17 million in the first three weeks of May, said an ET report quoting Sensor Tower Data. 

Clearly, there was almost a 2X dip in the number of downloads on the platform in May as compared to March. In January and February, these numbers stood at 30.8 million and 33.1 million users respectively. 

This development has come a month after the Bytedance-owned TikTok crossed 2 billion downloads across Google Play Store and The App Store. In the past few months, India had been the biggest driver of TikTok installs, generating 611 million or 30.3% of the total 2 billion. 

Following India were China and the United States which gave the app 196.6 million and 165 million installs respectively.

Probably a reason for the app to see a massive dip in its number of users is the huge backlash it is witnessing in India after an internet war broke out between its influencers and YouTube content creators. 

The controversy began after a popular TikTok star with 14 million followers posted a short video in bad taste that seemingly ‘glorified’ acid attacks on women.

TikTok suspended the account of the user after the National Commission of Women had filed a complaint. 

The many controversies around the app have also affected its Google Play Store rating where it fell to as low as 1.2 last week from 4.9, with over a million reviews critical of the app.

In addition, the reduced marketing and advertising budgets over the last two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic and constant anti-China sentiment among users, has also resulted in a fall in users, added the report.