A study has counted which apps were downloaded the most by Gen Z in 2024. Most of the favored smartphone applications are likely not surprising. Many well-known candidates, often and gladly used by the younger generation, are included. Neither WhatsApp nor Instagram is in the top 3.
Where do the data come from? The English-language magazine Techcrunch.com requested the data from the company Appfigures.com. The company analyzed data from individuals in the USA who are currently between 18 and 24 years old. Data for younger individuals are unlikely to be released.
Therefore, the data are not identical to numbers in Europe, but they generally provide a good trend for the usage of certain apps and products. Because mobile phones dictate the lives of Gen Z and also of the Millennials.
One app is even more popular than TikTok
Which is the most downloaded app? The most downloaded app by far is the Chinese shop “Temu”: The app has been downloaded nearly 42 million times. The pressure from Temu is so great that even the giant Amazon has now launched its own cheap alternative: Amazon Haul. However, the alternative is currently only available exclusively in the USA.
In 2nd place is the video platform TikTok with 33.23 million downloads. The platform, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has been controversial in the USA and Europe for some time.
In 3rd place is the Twitter and X alternative Threads from the Facebook parent company Meta, which has also been growing strongly for months.
Threads even ahead of WhatsApp and Instagram
Which apps have made it to the top 10? Below we list the 10 most popular apps:
- Temu, with 41.98 million
- TikTok with 33.23 million
- Threads with 32.32 million
- WhatsApp with 28.42 million
- Instagram with 26.29 million
- ChatGPT with 24.63 million
- Facebook with 20.58 million
- Google Search with 17.65 million
- Messenger with 17.63 million
- Netflix with 15.67 million.
Who else is noteworthy? In the next positions are the cheap shop Shein (14.68 million), YouTube (14.03 million), and PayPal (13.92 million). Following are Prime Video with 12.86 million and Disney+ with 11.68 million.
Several other Google apps also have high download numbers, such as Chrome with 10.19 million and Meet with 9.63 million downloads.
It’s also interesting that almost all the most popular apps are social media apps. There has long been the observation among young people that they have become overly dependent on social media. However, this does not change the fact that these are the strongest downloads in the store.
The Generation Z is currently facing two major problems. On the one hand, rents are becoming increasingly expensive, and on the other, they do not want to accept any job to earn money. And this is not well received by older generations, who refer to their own life paths: Gen Z is currently facing two major problems, one of which cannot be solved without help.
