About 40% of mobile users globally are Gen Z, sometimes referred to as the “mobile-first generation.” Appfigures recently revealed important trends in app consumption for Gen Z users in the U.S. in 2024 by analyzing the top 50 applications downloaded by Gen Z users between the ages of 18 and 24.
From January to October, Gen Z users downloaded 41.98 million copies of the top app, Temu, a well-known online marketplace. Despite debates about rapid fashion, young adults appear to find great resonance in the app’s gamification techniques, which include prizes and freebies. This age group is highly engaged, as evidenced by the 14.68 million fresh downloads of Shein, a close competitor, even though the majority may have already installed it.
TikTok, which has 33.23 million downloads, is still a popular platform among Gen Zers as a social media, entertainment, and search engine. Significant involvement was also observed on YouTube, with 14.03 million installs. Gen Z is also interested in new apps that provide video content, including ShortMax, which has been downloaded over 10 million times and focuses on drama.
The most downloaded app from Meta is still Threads, with 32.32 million downloads, followed by Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Google’s suite, which includes Chrome and Google Drive, saw millions of installs, and a revamp of Facebook probably helped spark new interest.
AI applications are also becoming more popular. Students have downloaded 24.63 million copies of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which they use to get career and academic advice. Gauth, a study software created by ByteDance, also received 8.37 million installs.
While payment applications like PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App are crucial for transactions among young adults, entertainment apps like Netflix and Spotify still keep Gen Z interested. All things considered, the data demonstrates how social, educational, and e-commerce applications influence Gen Z’s digital life and reveals their varied app preferences.