The Nationality of Apps Exploring National App Cultures and Economies

As Apple’s App Store approaches its 16th anniversary, regulations, markets, and services have evolved into local offerings of what was once a unified marketplace, resulting in distinct app experiences worldwide. In the context of ongoing efforts to regulate the app ecosystem, dominant app stores like Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store play a pivotal role in delineating and controlling boundaries between countries or regions within it. This report explores the implications of this trend for country-specific offerings and regional cultures and economies of apps, as well as the diverse manifestations of ‘appification’ on a global scale. Through a series of diverse case studies conducted together with our Master’s students, adopting a ‘multi-situated’ approach to app studies, it highlights the multifaceted impact of apps on everyday life, cultural and economic dynamics, and geopolitical events. Ultimately, the report underscores the importance of critical app studies and its ongoing relevance in comprehending the cultural, economic, and political dimensions of mobile apps and appification across countries and regions worldwide.