Move over millennials, the next generation is here. Generation Z are youth born between the mid-1990s and the early-2000s. Unlike millennials who will remember dial-up internet or earlier, Generation Z’ers may have a challenge recalling the time when they were not connected to the outside world via computer or smartphone. This means they look at technology and apps differently — and more often. A recent study found that 12% of youth between the ages of 13 and 17 check their phone every few seconds. It’s up to companies to build apps that will keep this generation engaged. Here are a few apps currently making it work. Social Media and Messaging A predictable first app to mention, Snapchat is insanely popular among Generation Z. The photo and video messaging app has more than 100 million active daily users, with 45% of those users between 18 and 24-years-old. This demographic uses Snapchat to document every cool, funny, and interesting moment in their lives, leading to a generation that can have vicarious experiences unlike any group in the past. Snapchat taps into two defining elements of Generation Z: a love of selfies and a fear of missing out (often known as FOMO). Through its ever-changing filters in which users can adorn themselves with flower crowns and dog faces — as well as the simple and short-term shareability of pictures and videos through private messages or public stories — Snapchat meets this demographic’s core app desires. Generation Z loves secret identities. That’s perhaps why an app called Whisper is so popular. Whisper users can send messages anonymously and receive replies which are posted publicly or sent to them by a user with a pseudonym. (However, it’s important for developers to consider that secret identity apps like this have the potential to open up a door to cyber-bullying and may need to be monitored heavily.) The messages — also known as whispers — are questions or confessions users may never share in the real world and are displayed to the app’s 30 million monthly users, with replies coming from around the world. While emojis continue to dominate smartphone messaging, an app called PopKey allows users to easily send GIFs in addition. The app installs a GIF keyboard to your phone, so users can easily select a trending GIF. There’s never been an easier way for Generation Z to send a virtual “face palm.” [gravityform id="9" title="true" description="true" ajax="true"] Photography and Video As mentioned, selfies are a big part of life for Generation Z, and photo sharing app Instagram can be the perfect outlet for those shots. The Instagram app of today has started to resemble Snapchat, with Instagram Stories allowing users to share momentary glances into one another’s lives. The fact that 76% of teenagers use Instagram shows there’s merit in allowing Generation Z the ability to add filters to their photos and easily engage with their friends, community, and celebrities. Live video streaming app Periscope has also gained traction among Generation Z’ers. If you thought Snapchat was an overshare, think again. Periscope is akin to The Truman Show, where users become famous by live streaming every moment of their life. Twitter acquired Periscope before its launch in 2015 in an effort to capture the attention of younger users, and it worked. One of the reasons Periscope is so popular is that it’s a more authentic look at someone’s day. Unlike Snapchat and Instagram where users can add filters and take hundreds of photos before finding the right one, there’s a level of vulnerability and exposure that comes from a live streaming app like Periscope. Music When it comes to music, the apps that are popular with Generation Z are the ones popular with millennials: namely Spotify and Pandora, with respectively, 39% and 21% approval ratings from this demographic. One of the reasons these apps may be popular is because of a user’s ability to curate content, i.e. create their own playlist or station. App developers considering the audio and music industry should consider designing their app as a streaming platform rather than one based on downloads. What Makes Apps Popular? Generation Z grew up on the internet, and they understand that there are no (or at least very little) secrets. This doesn’t mean that youth don’t want privacy and security, though. Apps targeting Generation Z’ers should incorporate some element of a confessional or ability to share — but should consider masking that information or the user’s location with some sort of disguise. An element of immediacy will also help with popularity, as Generation Z wants to find out what’s going on in real-time.

Place yourself in that moment when you sit down at a nice restaurant, and have company to impress. Maybe you’re entertaining potential clients, maybe a potential spouse. When you are handed the wine menu -- do you know what to order? Some of us do. Yet many of us look for the few we recognize, ask if everyone is okay with that, and move on to a subject we can command with more authority. The days of this dance could be ending, thanks to a new mobile app called Wine Ring. Released to the consumer October 27th, 2015, the app tracks your specific likes and dislikes to develop a tailored-for-you flavor profile. It does so with astounding accuracy by using a sophisticated algorithm that was 6-years in the making. Where It Began On a 7-week solo tour in Argentina, senior banker of Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan covering technology, real estate and retail, Pam Dillon had a revelation. Spending so much time observing the laid back culture of the Argentians and their love for wine, she came to notice how the locals were, “so much more at ease when they talked about wine. They didn’t have the insecurities we do.” She was determined to develop an app that would make those conversations even easier, to help people better understand their taste profiles and what they liked. Dillon began by enlisting a Chief Science Officer to write the algorithm. From there she sought out the brightest minds she could find in the wine world, recruiting five connoisseurs who held Masters of Wine, as well as five Master Sommeliers. It took the team 6-years after that 2009 Argentinian trip to make the dream a reality - and after all that time, it is now ready to develop your own wine palette. How it Works First, find the wine you are enjoying from a database of over 500,000 labels from 14,000 geographical locations. Then rate it. Choices are simply Love It, Like It, So-So, Don’t Like It. The app then gets to work as the algorithm tracks your answers and begins to piece together your profile. That’s it. Most wine apps muddle matters with talk of oakiness, fruitiness or whatever else, but with Wine Ring, the app keeps track of that for you. It’s like having your own Master Sommelier in your pocket. It knows what you enjoy drinking, so it’s the Somm’s/app’s job to keep track of these things -- not yours! Even better, as your profile develops, Wine Ring will be able to tell you if you’ll like a wine before ordering or bringing it home. Just search for the wine in the database. Then based on your previous answers, Wine Ring will be able to tell you the likelihood of your enjoying it or not. The more you use it, the more accurate the app can be. Which is to say, if there’s an app that’s fun to use, it’s an app that rewards you for wine enjoyment.

We all have our heros. Richard Branson taught us why neckties are the worst. Steve Jobs demonstrated that simplicity can build an empire. Bill Gates proved that a diploma doesn’t forecast success - and that sometimes nerds can win the whole game.   Yet today we want to focus on another hero of ours - Ron Swanson.   Fictional character of the hit NBC TV show Parks and Recreation, Swanson is a no nonsense guy’s guy. A meat eating, Europe hating, screw-the-government, breakfast food enthusiast. While much of the humor spouted by the anarchist character is heavily tongue in cheek, there’s a lot to be learned about web and mobile app development from the father of stoic narcissism.   Here are a few nuggets of Swansonian wisdom that can guide you in your iOS and/or Android application development quest:   1. "Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing.”     One of the most important things when building an app is understanding that you aren’t building a super robot that can accomplish everything there ever was. You won’t develop the Tweeting LinkedIn integrated CRM with chat functionality throwing Angry Birds that Crush Candy.   Find your niche and get good at it. Not just a little bit, but REALLY good at it. You won’t please every user but if you can hone in on what makes your niche users fall in love with your app, that is how you will experience viral growth.   2. “Turkey can never beat cow.”   A little context, Ron Swanson and Rob Lowe’s health nut character face off in a hamburger cook-off. Swanson simply uses a traditional bloody beef burger with nothing on it. Meanwhile Lowe goes above and beyond with ingredients, fancy spices, flashy decorations, and generally puts far more effort dressing up his burger-mimick than Swanson ever did.   Who won? Swanson with his beef burger.   Regardless of how much effort Lowe muscled into dressing up the turkey imitation, he still was working with the wrong product - and his audience knew it. Your audience is just as aware, and will see right through your product if you don’t do it right. Now there are two things we want to point out here: Be original - don’t copy another application.   While we believe in the idea of borrowing brilliance, we don’t believe in being a copycat. Facebook is the Facebook of all the Facebooks, so don’t build another Facebook. Make sure your idea is different enough to solve a real problem in the marketplace and is the solution people are looking for and can be excited about.   Don’t hire a second-tier development team - go for quality.   As the turkey burger is inferior to the beef burger, so are unproven developers to the experts. In mobile app development, finding the right developer who knows what they are doing may seem expensive on the face of the project. But in our experience, we have had client after client come to us lamenting the hiring poor developers to save a few pennies on the surface, only to pay for their mistakes and go to the experts in the end anyway. Do it right from the start to save yourself time and money.   3. “Crying: Acceptable at funerals and the Grand Canyon.”   Building an app is a long, well worth it process, filled with unexpected roadblocks and sometimes unforeseeable problems. We previously discussed the obstacles you may face in developing your application but in sum, remember to keep a cool head and know there will be challenges. This will enable you to lead your team with patience and end up with the product you all were hoping for. The point here is not to freak out and yes, the development process can sometimes be tough.   Through the same vein, Swanson gives us another good example of demonstrating toughness. During a typical meeting, to relieve an alleged toothache Swanson grabbed a pair of pliers. After moments of shaky tugging and pulling, he yanked out his own tooth. As his colleagues horrified shrieks faded down the hallway from fleeing the room, Ron turned to the camera to state, “It’s always a good idea to demonstrate to your coworkers that you are capable of withstanding a tremendous amount of pain.” Touche Ron, touche.   4. “There’s only one thing I hate more than lying: skim milk. Which is water that’s lying about being milk."   It’s not uncommon for salespeople to over promise what their product can do. However the companies that really get ahead are honest with what they offer and clear about their application’s capabilities. When you get to the final marketing process of your mobile or web application, maintain integrity in your marketing. Being honest about your finished product is what can earn you lifetime, loyal users.   Overall, building a web or mobile application is a process. Many steps must be considered and many people will be involved - but you can do it. And now that you have completed our bacon lover’s guide to app building, may we offer one final blessing from Swanson:   “Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into Swansons.”   Have questions on getting started on your mobile app, or already started and a little stuck? Ping us here and let us know how we can help.   Ron would.