Digital illustration of apps merging under the Digital Markets Act

Will 'Super-Apps' Dominate? How the Digital Markets Act Could Shape Your App Future

Lena Voss in Tech & Innovation June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the potential rise of 'super-apps' and how the Digital Markets Act (DMA) aims to regulate tech giants like Meta, impacting innovation and fairness in the digital marketplace."

The digital landscape is about to undergo a significant transformation. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is designed to foster fairness and competition, particularly targeting the practices of major tech companies. This legislation seeks to address current challenges and anticipate future trends in digital markets.

One of the most interesting developments on the horizon is the potential rise of 'super-apps'. Think of WeChat or KakaoTalk – these platforms offer a wide range of services within a single application, from messaging to payments. The DMA is now being examined to determine how it will handle companies like Meta, and their app WhatsApp, as they seek to expand their service offerings.

This article explores how the DMA's obligations, especially those concerning interoperability and data portability, might mitigate the risks to market fairness and competition as these super-apps evolve. We'll delve into whether the DMA is adequately prepared to safeguard the digital marketplace in the face of these potential changes.

The DMA's Dual Focus: Looking Back and Leaping Forward

Digital illustration of apps merging under the Digital Markets Act

Often, the DMA is viewed through the lens of past antitrust enforcement, focusing on preventing abuses of dominant market positions. For example, the anti-steering provision in Article 5(4) ensures that gatekeepers allow business users to inform their customers about alternative subscription and billing options.

However, the DMA's real potential lies in its ability to address both current and future challenges within the digital marketplace. It's about more than just correcting past wrongs; it's about shaping a competitive landscape moving forward.

Interoperability: Ensuring different platforms can work together.
Data Portability: Allowing users to easily move their data between services.
Fair Access: Preventing gatekeepers from unfairly favoring their own services.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK has already noted the trend of digital platforms expanding their services, such as integrating in-app shopping and financial services. This trend signals the possible emergence of super-apps, similar to those already popular in China and South Korea. The question remains: how will the DMA impact this increasing platform integration within the EU?

Future-Proofing Fairness: DMA and the Road Ahead

The regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly. The DMA represents a bold step forward, aiming to promote contestability and fairness in digital markets. As platforms like WhatsApp continue to evolve, integrating new technologies and services, the DMA must remain adaptable. While the DMA can address many immediate concerns, it will be essential to cultivate a complementary relationship with traditional antitrust law to ensure sustained fairness in the ever-changing digital world.

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Everything You Need To Know

What is the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and why is it important for the future of apps?

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a new regulation designed to foster fairness and competition in digital markets, particularly targeting major tech companies like Meta. Its importance lies in its potential to shape the future of apps, especially regarding the evolution of 'super-apps' such as WeChat. The DMA aims to prevent these companies from abusing their market positions and to ensure that smaller businesses can compete effectively. This includes addressing issues like interoperability, data portability, and fair access, which are crucial for maintaining a competitive digital marketplace.

How might the DMA influence the development of 'super-apps' like WhatsApp?

The DMA could significantly influence the evolution of 'super-apps' such as WhatsApp. The Act's emphasis on interoperability and data portability means that companies like Meta must allow their services to work with other platforms and enable users to easily transfer their data. This could impact how WhatsApp integrates new services and interacts with other apps, potentially leading to a more open and competitive environment. The DMA seeks to prevent WhatsApp, and other gatekeepers, from unfairly favoring their own services, encouraging greater innovation and user choice in the digital landscape.

What are interoperability and data portability, and how do they relate to the DMA?

Interoperability, as addressed in the DMA, refers to the ability of different platforms to work together. Data portability, also outlined in the DMA, allows users to move their data between services easily. These concepts are central to the DMA's goals. By enforcing interoperability, the DMA aims to prevent gatekeepers from creating closed ecosystems, thereby fostering competition. Data portability empowers users, giving them more control over their information and enabling them to switch between services more freely, further promoting a competitive market.

How does the DMA go beyond traditional antitrust approaches to regulate the digital market?

While traditional antitrust laws often focus on correcting past market abuses, the DMA takes a proactive approach to shaping the future of the digital market. The DMA's forward-looking perspective allows it to anticipate and address potential issues, such as the rise of 'super-apps' and the integration of various services within platforms like WhatsApp. It focuses on promoting contestability and fairness through measures like ensuring interoperability, data portability, and fair access, rather than solely reacting to existing anti-competitive behaviors. The DMA's focus also helps to shape a competitive digital marketplace, fostering innovation and user choice.

What are the implications of the DMA for app developers and businesses?

The DMA has several important implications for app developers and businesses. By promoting interoperability and fair access, the DMA creates opportunities for smaller businesses to compete more effectively against larger tech companies like Meta. App developers may find it easier to reach users and integrate their services within platforms such as WhatsApp. Additionally, the emphasis on data portability gives users more control over their information, potentially leading to changes in how businesses collect and use data. The DMA aims to level the playing field, encouraging innovation and creating a more dynamic digital ecosystem for app developers and businesses alike.