YouTube is on the brink of surpassing KakaoTalk to claim the title of the most utilized mobile platform in South Korea. The competition between these two giants has intensified, with recent industry data revealing a slim variance in monthly active users (MAUs).
Currently, KakaoTalk, overseen by Kakao Corp., has 41.02 million MAUs, while YouTube closely trails, lagging behind by 336 MAUs.
The data from mobile index information provided by IGAWorks showed the neck-and-neck race between KakaoTalk and YouTube in the South Korean mobile platform landscape. This shift signals a dynamic trend in user preferences, making YouTube a strong contender for the top spot as both platforms vie for dominance in the country’s digital sphere.
The data shows the most marginal difference in monthly active users (MAUs) between YouTube and KakaoTalk since IGAWorks initiated its comprehensive tracking of Android and iOS platforms in May 2020.
While KakaoTalk held a substantial lead of 1.44 million MAUs over YouTube in December 2022, the gap has steadily diminished. By November of the preceding year, it had contracted to approximately 200,000, and in the subsequent month, it further dwindled to just over 300, indicating close competition unfolding in the South Korean mobile platform landscape.
The reason behind YouTube’s ascendance lies in its expanding user base within the 30s demographic, a segment traditionally dominated by KakaoTalk. The recent data underscores this trend, revealing YouTube’s overtaking of its Korean counterpart in terms of monthly active users (MAUs) within this age group during the second quarter.
The upcoming reshuffling in mobile platform rankings shows YouTube’s overall growth and signals its success for YouTube Music, the platform’s music streaming service. YouTube Music has surpassed Melon, a music streaming service by Kakao Corp., claiming the top spot with nearly 6.5 million listeners. This achievement suggests YouTube’s increasing dominance and influence within South Korea’s digital landscape as it extends its reach beyond video content to reshape preferences in music streaming.
As digital platforms continually evolve and diversify their features, users are increasingly drawn to those offering the most comprehensive and engaging experiences. In this context, YouTube’s expansive offerings appear to be gaining prominence over KakaoTalk’s more specialized services.
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