Elon Musk has generated fresh interest in Twitter, and you don’t have to take his word for it. 

Data from two independent research firms, Apptopia and Sensor Tower, indicate that downloads and activity on Twitter are on the upswing in the weeks since Musk bought it and in comparison to last year, appearing to confirm recent boasting from the tech billionaire that he has reinvigorated the social media app. 

But the situation is more complicated than a simple rise in downloads and activity. 

According to Apptopia, downloads of Twitter in the U.S. averaged about 125,000 a day during a recent 31-day period — a figure that’s 23% higher than during the previous month and 42% higher than a similar period a year earlier. 

The growth was slower outside the U.S., though, with 14% growth from a month earlier and 4% growth from a year earlier, Apptopia data showed. 

Carolina Milanesi, a consumer tech analyst, said the slower growth outside the U.S. may be an indication that people abroad are less interested in drama around Musk as a public figure. 

“If you’re in Italy, maybe this is not top of mind for you,” she said. 

Milanesi, the president of Creative Strategies, a consulting firm, said the quantity of users may matter less than their demographics. 

“Especially if he wants to pivot to a paid-for service, not everyone is going to want to or be able to pay $8 a month,” she said, referring to the $7.99-a-month Twitter Blue service.