Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter, in case you didn't know by now) has become the most popular news app on Apple's App Store in India. This comes days after a reported spike in platform activity during the announcement of the US presidential election results. X recently reported an unprecedented 434.1 billion user seconds on election day, marking a new high in user engagement.
While these figures have been publicised by Musk and his company officials, they lack third-party verification. The uptick follows a similar milestone in July 2024, when the platform recorded 417 billion user seconds in a single day.
X is the top news app on the App Store on both the iPhone and iPad ecosystems in India, with Reddit and Dainik Bhaskar (Hindi) making up the top three ranks.
X also ruled the ranks in the US market as well, ABP Live could verify.
ALSO READ: Do You Know About X’s Latest Alternative Bluesky? Here Are The Top Features & How To Access
Elon Musk shared the news on his X feed as well.
Trump Bump
The surge in activity aligns with Donald Trump’s election victory, a candidate openly supported by Musk. Though the exact reasons for the increase remain unclear, the charged political climate likely drove users to the platform for real-time updates and discussions.
Musk himself actively engaged during this period, posting updates that appeared to align with peak activity times.
ALSO READ: Elon Musk Emerging To Be Vital Presence At Donald Trump's Mar-A-Lago Following US Election Win
In March 2024, XData reported 250 million daily active users, each spending an average of 30 minutes on the app. These figures highlight X’s sustained popularity, even as it navigates controversies and shifts under Musk’s leadership. The billionaire’s $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022 ushered in dramatic changes, including workforce reductions, revamped moderation policies, and the reinstatement of banned accounts.
To counter falling ad revenue, Musk introduced a subscription model, offering premium features under the rebranded "X Blue" service. Additionally, X incentivizes verified users with substantial follower counts by granting them access to advanced features, further driving engagement.
Musk’s transformation of Twitter into X represents a bid to create an "everything app," offering a wide array of services beyond social media. This vision included removing the iconic blue bird logo and streamlining the platform’s design. Despite challenges, X’s current performance suggests Musk’s changes are resonating with a large user base, positioning the app as a dominant player in the digital news landscape.