The Trump-Musk feud has been great for X, which jumped up the App Store charts

X's engagement metrics, including downloads and active users, have surged following the public disagreement between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, with its U.S. App Store ranking climbing to 23rd overall on June 5, up from an average of 68 over the prior month; Sensor Tower estimates a 6% increase in total U.S. mobile app active users on June 5 and a 54% increase between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time compared to the previous week. Truth Social also saw a boost, with a more than 400% increase in U.S. mobile app active users compared to the last seven days, although X maintains a significantly larger user base.

Analysis

The public dispute between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has demonstrably catalyzed a significant, short-term surge in user engagement for social media platform X and, to a proportionally greater extent, Truth Social. According to Sensor Tower data, X ascended to the 23rd overall spot in the U.S. App Store on June 5, a notable climb from its 30-day average rank of No. 68 and its six-month average of No. 58. This improved ranking, also observed on Google Play where X climbed approximately 20 spots from its prior seven-day average and 16 spots from its 30-day average, is attributed to increased downloads and engagement. Specifically, X experienced a 6% rise in total U.S. mobile app active users on June 5, with a peak increase of 54% in active users between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time compared to the previous seven days. Trump's Truth Social also benefited, recording a more than 400% increase in U.S. mobile app active users relative to the preceding week. Despite this substantial percentage growth for Truth Social, X maintains a vastly larger user base, reportedly 100 times greater in terms of U.S. mobile app users. The combined activity on both platforms during the peak afternoon hours on June 5 reached a 90-day high. At the time of reporting, X continued its upward trend, ranking as the 19th top free iPhone app, while Truth Social held the 14th position in the Social Networking category but remained below 150th overall for free iPhone apps on the U.S. App Store.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Investors should monitor how high-profile public discourse can significantly and rapidly influence user engagement on social media platforms, impacting app store rankings and activity metrics which are key performance indicators in the sector.
• The data indicates that Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) app distribution platforms like Google Play are central to the visibility and user acquisition of these social media applications, and while the direct sentiment impact on Alphabet itself from this specific feud appears neutral, the health of its app ecosystem remains pertinent.
• Although X is privately held, its demonstrated ability to sharply increase engagement and app store standing following specific events, as observed on both Apple's App Store and Google Play, offers insights into the volatile, event-driven nature of the social media landscape relevant for assessing companies reliant on digital engagement and advertising.