Around a third (32 per cent) of UK consumers feel mobile apps are becoming more invasive, with four out of 10 admitting they would not download an app if they had privacy concerns.

According to a survey of 100 mobile users by app developer Apadmi, 37 per cent of respondents would not download an app if it posts updates on Facebook or Twitter, operates their phone without their knowledge, collects personal data or invades their privacy.

However, this kind of functionality wasn’t universally opposed, with 12 per cent saying they wouldn’t be put off downloading an app by such considerations.

Co-founder and director at Apadmi Howard Simms said that it is becoming more difficult to market apps as users are getting more concerned about how their data is being used.

He said the proportion of users that would not download an app due to privacy concerns “should serve as a wake-up call to organisations building their own apps, app developers and mobile marketers”.

The research also looked at app discovery, finding that 40 per cent of respondents discover apps by searching for a particular product within an app store.

Other approaches included hearing about apps from friends or family (19 per cent), app charts (15 per cent), reviews or news articles (14 per cent), social media (9 per cent) and online or television advertising (4 per cent).

Users also seem to be using apps for practical tasks, rather than for entertainment, to a greater degree. Around 42 per cent said they mostly download apps that help them “complete a task in their personal or professional life”, such as banking, currency converters and reading apps.

However, 37 per cent said they mostly download games and novelty titles including puzzles and ‘voice changers’.