Why I’m not worried about the mobile web

[Commentary] The analytics firm Flurry reported that mobile app usage in the US was higher than ever in the first quarter of 2014, accounting for 86 percent of the average mobile user’s time, or two hours and 19 minutes per day.

The mobile web accounted for just 14 percent of the average user’s time spent on mobile (22 minutes per day), down from 20 percent during the first quarter of 2013. Flurry’s data isn’t surprising, but the report generated some incendiary headlines. Forbes shouted that the mobile browser is dead, Business Insider echoed that claim, and BuzzFeed concluded that no one uses the mobile web anymore.

Perhaps the most thought-provoking piece was from entrepreneur-turned-venture capitalist Chris Dixon, who said the “worrisome trend” is likely to relegate the web to a “niche product” used only for a few specific tasks. Dixon makes some great points, and his brief post is well worth a read. But there are a few important reasons I disagree with his conclusion:

• Mobile apps often overlap with the mobile web.
• The mobile web experience still stinks.
• Web-friendly technologies will continue to improve.