A report released by AppsFlyer found that a 49% of apps have been uninstalled 30 days after its download during 2022, with the video game as the main to leave the phones: a rate of 65.87% on Android devices.
The analysis indicates that, in many cases, gaming apps are even dropping out the same day of its installation.
Guillermo Álvarez, general manager of AppsFlyer for Latin America, explained that this is due “to the nature exploratory of games, as users are constantly trying out new titles. If the game doesn’t make a memorable first impression, it’s usually uninstalled in a heartbeat.”
Of course, there is one key factor in the decision to delete an application: the space. Considering that apps compete with each other in terms of available storage space and data usage, it makes sense that they should be uninstalled by users.
“There are no applications heavier than video gameswhich also, thanks to the constant access to its resources, benefit from being installed in the main memory of the device, which is faster than an SD card”, explains to Clarín Ignacio Esains, journalist specializing in video games and industry analyst. .
“The most popular games on mid-range phones (PUBG, Call of Duty Mobile, LoL: Wild Rift) are between 5 and 10 gigabytes. The console-style open world game Genshin Impact exceeds 20GB,” adds the analyst , which publishes historical analyzes on its Cronotripper site.
“Also, the popularity of hypercasual and casual games it shortened the length of an average game. Even the most demanding games have high uninstall rates, as players quickly make the investment needed to fully understand and enjoy an advanced game.
“Applications social (59.71%) and those of education (53.40%) were the ones who followed in uninstall rate on Android devices, between September and October 2022. This is followed by utilities (52.63%) and finances (44.98%)”, is still on the list.
The study does not consider iOS Why do Apple devices restrict the following from uninstalls after OS version 15. “The uninstall rate was calculated by dividing the number of uninstalls within 30 days of downloading an application by the total number of installations,” explains AppsFlyer in relation to the studio’s production conditions, which can be read in full here.
On the other hand, the applications of finance They’re the healthiest: They get more downloads and stay on phones, with rates 27% higher than the average for other app categories.
The number still represents an 8% reduction compared to 2021, but the uninstall trend remains high.
Why are apps uninstalled?
There are several reasons why the user decides to remove an application from his phone. However, many of them can be summed up in one concept: the (bad) user experience (UX extensionas known in the mobile development environment) that many present.
“One of the main reasons why an application can be uninstalled is that it is not clear what it proposes or what differential the app generates. Sometimes the user downloads the app and it doesn’t solve any problem”, explains a clarion Franco Pellegrini, director of product design at Free market.
On the other hand, the expert points out that there is a sort of app bubble which, at some point, pincha: all brands think they should have an appwhen this is not strictly necessary.
“The question is for what: what value does an app add? It has to be something really useful and useful. If it’s the same as what I can see on a website, you’re replicating the functionality on another screen. The hook is raised when the application adds value: an application needs to solve a problem. If not, it’s probably a useless app.”, says the author of the design of the worlda specialized book on these subjects.
Another problem is the excess notificationswhat is his name “push” (“push” contents, because they reach the user without requesting them).
“Many times the applications they fill you with push notifications so you can use them again. And this can be extremely annoying, users disable notifications at best and, over time, uninstall these apps,” she adds.
However, there is another critical point: the advertising. In some cases it can be unbearable for the user: “Another reason has to do with monetization models: some have ads everywhere. This generates a very unstable experience where there may be even more ‘app’ ads, which generates annoyance over time,” he warns.
And last but not least, first impressions: “A report found that of all the apps you have, 50% is entered no more than 10 times. And there was another super cool fact: 20% of the apps you have, you’re only entered once. It’s like in dating, the first impression is what counts: if you entered and it didn’t add value, it was full of advertising or it wasn’t easy to use, it is very likely that you will never open it again”, concludes the PhD too in Communication (UNLP).
The apps, gateways to scams and hacks
One problem that exists with applications is that because there are so many and so varied, many represent a problem for users’ online safety. In some cases, because they leave gateways for possible attacks, in others, because they are malware themselves (spyware, adwareFor example).
Many also cause your phone to slow down (commonly referred to as bloatware).
In this sense, consulted by clarionTony Sabaj, leader of the Check Point Software Engineering Channel, recommends carefully checking where applications are downloaded from and verifying their nature.
“The most important is where the app is downloaded from. Trusted app stores such as the Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Fire Store they check the security of applications before publishing them, even if some are better than others,” he explains.
“There are many other app stores that require you to download a profile to allow apps to be installed, or sideload apps, which means they manually install apps on your device. These types of apps should never be trusted by default“, he adds.
In this sense, it’s not bad to check if the application has what is known as “digital signature”.
“Just as a website has a signature that has been verified for encryption, applications can have it too digital certificates that prove that a third party has at least verified the publisher of the app. That doesn’t make it inherently safe, it just confirms the source,” he adds.
In the details of an app, before downloading it, you can check if it has this type of certification.
Third-party permissions, another potential danger
One last point to note is the abuse of certain applications when requesting permissions.
The so-called third-party permissions (“third parties”) come into play when the user authorizes to an application to use our data that may be sensitive, such as our address book, camera or location.
“Most users blindly agree to grant all requested permissions to perpetual. Many of these applications also prompt the user to do this Sign inproviding even more personal information,” explains Emmanuel Di Battista, security analyst.
“It is common for them to ask for the user’s location, access to the mobile camera or even ask to send certain types of notifications,” he develops, warning that this can lead to a potential problem.
Check Point’s Sabaj explains this idea: “Apart from only getting apps from trusted sources, the best way to determine the risk of an app is Check what you have access to. For example inside iOS there are about two dozen services that an app can access, such as location, camera, network status, microphone, or contacts, just to name a few.
“If I download a weather app, chances are it does I don’t need access to my contacts or my microphonewhich is a sure sign that an app may be collecting unnecessary data or spyware. Apple has angered many app developers by offering the user an easy way to stop apps from tracking information about their device.”
Therefore, between the number of applications that are downloaded due to their low use and the possible problems they can generate on the phone, whatever the nature of the application, it is always advisable think twice before downloading.
And above all, review what permissions does it require the app to avoid generating potential problems in the future.
Source: Clarin
Linda Price is a tech expert at News Rebeat. With a deep understanding of the latest developments in the world of technology and a passion for innovation, Linda provides insightful and informative coverage of the cutting-edge advancements shaping our world.