The video hosting application became the first in terms of the number of downloads.
At the end of July, the head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Alexander Khinshtein, reported a slowdown in YouTube’s work in Russia. This fact, apparently, became a catalyst for the rapid growth in popularity of domestic video services.
A striking example is the VK Video app, launched on September 20 last year. According to Google Play and App Store statistics, it has become the leader in downloads in Russia, leaving even TikTok behind. VK confirms this information, noting that the number of VK Video installations has grown 4.5 times compared to the monthly average.
As you know, VK Video not only allows you to watch videos and streams, but also gives users the opportunity to upload their own content. Experts are convinced that, although the surge in downloads of the application is associated with YouTube’s problems, the Russian platform has serious potential. “The content will be filled quickly,” predicts Pavel Myasoedov, director of IT-Reserve, noting the active development of the service.
The success of Russian video platforms is not limited to VK Video. Thus, the average daily audience of Rutube among Russians over 12 years old reached 4.4 million people in June. This is 2.1 times more than at the beginning of summer 2023. In addition, Google Play records an increase in user interest in Zen and applications for viewing humorous pictures. In the App Store, in addition to VK Video, Rutube and TikTok entered the top three.
