A new report from online security company AVG Technologies says social media is often to blame for affecting smartphone battery life and other performance factors. Its latest Android App Performance Report is based on an analysis of anonymous data from over one million AVG Android app users around the world, listing the top apps that affect data consumption, storage capacity and battery life.
Facebook’s social networking app had the biggest overall impact on mobile devices, noted AVG, because it regularly checks for notifications even when the app isn’t open. In second place was the app from rival social network Path.
| Performance Impact Rank |
App Name |
Category |
Developer |
| 1 |
Facebook |
Social |
Facebook |
| 2 |
Path |
Social |
Path Inc. |
| 3 |
9GAG – Funny pics and videos |
Entertainment |
9GAG |
| 4 |
Instagram |
Social |
Instagram |
| 5 |
Spotify Music |
Music & Audio |
Spotify Ltd. |
Real-time news apps could also have significant effects: the New York Times Breaking News app was most likely to affect device storage, while CNN’s Breaking US & World News app and the Daily Mail app were noted for their data consumption.
Yuval Ben-Itzhak, Chief Technology Officer at AVG Technologies, said “The goal of the Android App Performance Report is to analyze anonymized data to give users the important information they need to make informed choices about what they can do to continue to enjoy their favorite apps while reducing their impact on their device. It might not be obvious what Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, 8 Ball Pool and Farm Heroes Saga have in common. But in our tech-centric world, running out of battery or storage space at the moment you need it most is hugely frustrating, and that’s why this degree is insight is vital.”