New York, February 20, 2026, 10:16 (EST) — Regular session
AppLovin Corp (APP.O) jumped 3.3% to $425.73 on Friday, gaining $13.73 over its previous close as investors reacted to new indications that the mobile advertising firm is developing a social platform. Trading during the session ranged from $416.40 to $443.00.
This shift is significant: AppLovin, known for supplying software to help other app makers buy ads and cash in on their users, now looks set to step further into the spotlight. Running its own social network would put it up against rivals chasing the same user attention—and the same advertising money.
The deal would hand AppLovin a pipeline to ad slots and user data from its own platform—not just from outside partners. Direct, “first-party” data like this keeps getting more prized as tracking rules clamp down.
AppLovin is looking for a founding backend engineer in Singapore, according to a job posting for a “Software Engineer.” The role? “Architect the digital backbone of our next-generation social platform,” the company says. Responsibilities include designing systems for media delivery, real-time social features, and content discovery. (Greenhouse)
AppLovin’s chief product and engineering officer, Giovanni Ge, floated the idea during a Chinese-language appearance on the Valley 101 podcast, as reported by MediaPost. Ge put it this way: “We don’t have as many resources as Google and Meta, so we are destined not to solve our problems using their methods,” the report quoted him. (MediaPost)
According to Bloomberg Law, the platform push comes after AppLovin’s unsuccessful bid last year to acquire TikTok’s assets outside China. Ge, for his part, described the strategy as flipping Meta Platforms’ usual playbook. (Bloomberg Law)
Last week, the company topped Wall Street’s sales projections for the fourth quarter and guided for first-quarter revenue ahead of analyst expectations, Reuters reported, citing strong appetite for its ad offerings and AI-driven products. The company, though, signaled more rivals are vying for ad dollars, with spending still restrained. (Reuters)
Yet, the reality is that creating a consumer social platform eats up cash and faces plenty of rivals. No launch timeline, no clear budget—excitement fades fast. Shares often end up tracking ad-market shifts and whatever competition throws their way.
Investors are waiting to see if AppLovin lays out any specifics on its plan, especially the timeline. The tech sector, meanwhile, faces a packed earnings calendar. “Next week is going to be pretty important for software,” said King Lip, chief strategist at BakerAvenue Wealth Management. Nvidia is scheduled for its quarterly earnings call on Wednesday, Feb. 25, the chipmaker confirmed. (Reuters)
