The Growing Dominance of Foreign Apps Among South Korean Teens: What’s Behind the Shift?

The usage of foreign apps among South Korean teenagers has surged, significantly outpacing local applications.

The usage of foreign apps among South Korean teenagers has surged, significantly outpacing local applications. This trend highlights the growing influence of global tech giants in Korea's IT landscape. This blog explores the factors driving this shift and the potential implications for young users.

1. Dominance of Foreign Apps:

Recent data from mobile analytics firm IGAWorks reveals that foreign applications are dominating smartphone usage in South Korea. YouTube, for instance, has maintained a commanding lead in app usage time, with a total of 456.91 million hours used in the second week of August, vastly surpassing KakaoTalk, which logged 116.54 million hours. YouTube’s user base continues to grow, with its Monthly Active Users (MAUs) standing at approximately 45.81 million, compared to KakaoTalk's 45.00 million and Naver’s 43.09 million.

2. Rising Popularity Among Teens:

A striking trend is the increasing preference for foreign platforms among teenagers. Data shows that YouTube, Instagram, and Google Chrome are the top three apps in terms of usage among users aged 0 to 19. Instagram, in particular, has become highly popular, with usage times more than double that of KakaoTalk. The shift is evident as Instagram’s Direct Messaging (DM) feature is increasingly favored by teens over KakaoTalk.

3. Impact of Short-Form Content:

Foreign apps, particularly those offering short-form content like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels, are capturing the attention of young users. These platforms effectively engage teenagers with bite-sized videos and interactive content, thereby locking in users and expanding their reach into various services, from messaging to e-commerce.

4. Concerns and Challenges:

The growing dominance of foreign apps raises concerns about exposure to inappropriate content. The management of harmful content and misinformation on these platforms often takes place at their global headquarters, making swift action challenging. This delay in addressing harmful content could lead to prolonged exposure for young users.

5. Global Regulatory Trends:

In response to these concerns, several countries are tightening regulations on social media use by minors. For instance, New Mexico has sued Meta (Instagram’s parent company) for failing to protect minors from explicit content. Other regions, such as Florida and Utah, are implementing or proposing regulations to restrict social media access for children under certain ages or require parental consent.

The increasing dominance of foreign apps among South Korean teens reflects a broader global trend where major international tech companies are capturing significant market shares in various countries. While these platforms offer innovative and engaging content, there are growing concerns about the potential risks and the need for robust content management. As regulatory measures evolve worldwide, it remains crucial to balance the benefits of these platforms with the safety and well-being of young users.