The article discusses the surge in usage and downloads of alternative social media apps, particularly Likee, following a 14-hour TikTok shutdown due to federal legislation aimed at Chinese influence. This incident represents a rare moment of internet censorship in the US, where TikTok has substantial user engagement, particularly among teens. Usage data from Sensor Tower revealed a staggering 143% increase in Likee downloads, indicating a strong pivot to alternative platforms. Financially, increases in shares for Likee's parent company Joyy were observed, reflecting the heightened interest in competitor apps.
On Saturday, Likee drew 143 percent more downloads and 37 percent more usage in the US than the previous day, according to Sensor Tower.
Estimates from Apptopia show that Likee recorded less than 10,000 downloads per day in the US before jumping to nearly 167,000 on Sunday.
The ban on TikTok due to federal law resulted in an unprecedented incident of internet censorship in a country that prizes free expression.
Shares of Likee's parent company, Joyy, closed up about 3 percent, outpacing the average gain among its Nasdaq peers after increased usage.
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