Apple omits Facebook, Instagram from 'Essentials' in App Store | WSAV-TV

(NEXSTAR) – Is Apple shading Meta? On Saturday, iPhone users noted the company’s showcase of “Essential” suggested apps in its App Store leaves a few digital giants off the list — a list that recently included a “Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures” game. Many other popular apps, like TikTok, YouTube and Amazon, appear on the “Essentials” list. But it omits other giants like Facebook, Instagram and instant messenger WhatsApp, all owned by parent company Meta. Facebook currently has 1.929 billion daily active users, according to BBC. Instagram, meanwhile, boasts 120 million active users. For comparison, Facebook has far higher DAU numbers than Twitter (206 million) and TikTok (15.5 million), per Statistica data. Snapchat — one of Meta’s closest competitors with around 428 million monthly active users — is listed first by Apple. There is currently no active user data for “Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures,” developed by Budge Studios. Apple, however, lists the fashion and design game as no. 43 on its gaming charts. It’s also important to note the list populates with a few different apps when loaded, so not everyone’s “Essentials” may feature the same apps. Screenshot of “Essentials” seen on one user’s phone (NEXSTAR photo) A $10B hit to Meta Recent…
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