Most popular apps capturing Gen Z's attention
Apps that Zoomers should install (photo: Freepik)
Generation Z has already established distinct preferences in the world of digital innovation, and their app choices provide a window into today’s trends. In a rapidly evolving tech landscape, Zoomers gravitate towards platforms that align with their interests and needs, according to TechCrunch.
Temu
Based on data from iOS and Android users in the US, Temu was the most downloaded app from January to October. It is a popular online marketplace offering nearly every kind of product at deep discounts.
Young users downloaded the app 41.98 million times, indicating that many affordable items appeal to Gen Z despite their affinity for sustainability and ongoing debates around fast fashion. Temu also uses gamification strategies to engage shoppers, including coupons, rewards, and free gifts.
TikTok
Unsurprisingly, TikTok ranks just behind Temu, with 33.23 million downloads. This short-form video app is favored by users aged 18 to 24 for several reasons, the most obvious being its role as a primary source of quick, easily digestible content. Notably, the app’s Gen Z audience increasingly uses it as a search tool over Google.
YouTube
Another major video platform is YouTube. Over the past ten months, the mobile app garnered 14.03 million new downloads. While this figure is lower than TikTok’s, it still reflects substantial engagement from this demographic.
Apps from Meta
In addition to spending and streaming habits, young people today are actively downloading Meta’s family of apps. Threads leads with 32.32 million downloads, followed by WhatsApp with 28.42 million, Instagram with 26.29 million, Facebook with 20.58 million, and Messenger with 17.63 million.
As Threads was recently launched, it makes sense that it garnered more new downloads. Additionally, Facebook appears to have seen a renewed interest following updates targeting Gen Z users.
Another tech giant, Google, also accumulated significant downloads this year. Its search app saw 17.65 million downloads, while other Google products like Chrome and Meet saw 10.19 million and 9.63 million downloads, respectively. Meanwhile, Google Drive gained 7.22 million downloads, and Google Photos reached 6.79 million.
ChatGPT
It’s hardly surprising that ChatGPT from OpenAI remains popular among 18- to 24-year-olds, with 24.63 million downloads. As many young adults start college or take their first career steps, ChatGPT has become a valuable resource for educational support and career advice.
Another AI-based app gaining traction is Gauth, developed by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, with 8.37 million new downloads.
CapCut and others
For Zoomers, photo-sharing and social networking apps are an integral part of daily life.
In addition to Threads and Instagram, ByteDance’s CapCut is also popular among 18- to 24-year-olds. This video-editing app is known for its extensive effects and filters, which facilitate uploading edited content to TikTok and other compatible platforms. Data shows it has been downloaded 21.72 million times.
Another ByteDance app, Lemon8, is also gaining popularity within this age group, with 7.7 million downloads.
The list also includes Snapchat with 19.16 million downloads, Telegram with 13.12 million, Pinterest at 8.23 million, Reddit at 8.06 million, and X at 7.58 million.
Currently, Netflix stands as the top streaming service among 18- to 24-year-olds, attracting 15.67 million downloads.
The music-streaming app with the strongest pull among young Zoomers is Spotify, the leading platform. Spotify has seen 10.45 million downloads, highlighting its significant appeal to this age group.
