About the Series

The ASI Sprint Report Series serves as a conduit for exploring the phenomenon of ‘appification’ and its various societal, cultural, and political-economic impacts worldwide. Dedicated to critical app studies inquiry, this series showcases ongoing research efforts conducted by researchers associated with the App Studies Initiative (ASI) in collaboration with Master’s students. Published by the ASI, each report features the latest research generated during recent ‘sprints’, with the aim of disseminating ongoing research within the broader app and platform studies research community.

 

No. 1 (May 2024), ‘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 digital sphere, 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 the app ecosystem. This report delves into the implications of this trend for country-specific 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 illuminates 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.

Download and read more: https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/hv34x [PDF].

About the report: This first ASI Sprint Report stems from the 2023–2024 Master’s elective course ‘Appification: The Cultures and Economies of Apps’, taught by the editors in the Department of Media Studies at the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Humanities. The chapters present the research undertaken by students as part of the course during its concluding themed ‘data sprint’, organised within the Department of Media Studies. All contributors are listed in the Contributors section of the report.

Suggested citation: van der Vlist FN and Weltevrede E (eds) (2024, May 31) The Nationality of Apps: Exploring National App Cultures and Economies (ASI Sprint Report No. 1). App Studies Initiative (ASI). DOI: 10.17605/osf.io/hv34x.