The Median App and the Median User-Minute

Here's something that might surprise you: the median app’s user-minute actually reveals more about a platform’s health than total downloads. Byrne Hobart points out that a small group of highly active users keeps a lot of apps afloat, which means engagement per user is a stronger signal than raw numbers. So, an app with fewer users but longer, more frequent sessions could be more valuable than one with tons of casual downloads. This shifts how we should think about growth — it's not just about getting more eyeballs, but about increasing the depth of those interactions. Hobart emphasizes that this focus on user-minute data helps investors and product teams spot the true winners early, especially in a crowded market. And get this — this insight applies across industries, from social media to finance. The big takeaway? If you want sustainable advantage, look at how deeply your users are engaged, not just how many there are. Because in the end, the median user-minute might be the best long-term indicator of success.