Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the weekly TechCrunch series that recaps the latest in mobile OS news, mobile applications and the overall app economy.

Global app spending reached $65 billion in the first half of 2022, up only slightly from the $64.4 billion during the same period in 2021, as hypergrowth fueled by the pandemic has slowed down. But overall, the app economy is continuing to grow, having produced a record number of downloads and consumer spending across both the iOS and Google Play stores combined in 2021, according to the latest year-end reports. Global spending across iOS and Google Play last year was $133 billion, and consumers downloaded 143.6 billion apps.

This Week in Apps offers a way to keep up with this fast-moving industry in one place with the latest from the world of apps, including news, updates, startup fundings, mergers and acquisitions, and much more.

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Top Stories

Now is the time to build new social apps

Image Credits: TechCrunch

Today's dominant social networks are losing their grip on the youngest generation of internet users. Last month, we looked at how one of the world's largest social networks, Facebook, had begun to fade in relevance -- and was losing its position in the App Store's Top Charts, as a result -- while young people turned to apps like BeReal and TikTok instead. But there still seems to be this sentiment among a number of app makers that trying to compete in social is a lost cause. That's not necessarily true anymore. Just as Instagram grew under Facebook's shadow, there's room for other apps to grow outside TikTok -- an app that is today seen as more of an entertainment platform than a place to connect with close friends (though TikTok is pushing to change that).

BeReal's rise is proof that alternative networks that prioritize real-world friendships can still find traction. In fact, younger people are hungry for a place to be themselves and keep up with their friends outside of feeds filled with creator content and targeted ads.