Baby boomers do not like technology.

We should cater to millennials. They are the most tech-savvy.

Gen Z should be our focus now; they are the future.

These are just some of the most common generational stereotypes that we’ve heard in the tech industry. When it comes to building an app, we research these types of information that can help when it’s time to market the app.

Yes, your app idea is useful.

Yes, it is feasible.

But let’s be honest here. Two of the most important questions that you want to know the answer to is:

1. Which generation has the most significant purchasing power? 
2. Which generation should be our target market?

Each generation differs when it comes to using apps and buying and has their own needs, traits, and attitudes when it comes to technologies. If you are building an app, you need to familiarize yourself with each of them to understand and define who your real target market is.

The Generations

On a fine Sunday afternoon, you talk to your friends on Messenger about the newest episode of your favorite series on Netflix. While doing so, you notice that your dad is currently on his new iPhone reading a news article, and your mom is reading her emails from work even on the weekend on her Android phone. You look to your right, and your little brother is watching some funny video on Youtube on his tablet.

Sounds familiar?

To some, this is how different generations from a typical family look like while using apps.

Although we differ on how we utilize our phones and tablets, you cannot deny that we have become attached to them, specifically mobile apps.

However, we can see immediately how different generations have various ways of utilizing their mobile gadgets.

Baby Boomers

Born between 1946 to 1964, baby boomers use technology almost as much as millennials, in contrast to the myth that they are not receptive to it. Most of them use technology to connect with friends and family members.

According to Provision Living, baby boomers use their smartphones for an average of five hours a day. They spend most of their time on social media, with Facebook and Instagram being on top one and two of the list. Email and Messenger immediately follow.

To capture this generation’s loyalty, Aimia Loyalty Solutions recommend establishing relationships by presenting your product’s worth and having excellent customer service.

Generation X 

People from this generation were born from 1965 to 1976, between baby boomers and the millennials. Generation X or Gen X is often overlooked when it comes to businesses targeting markets. 

Although they still like traditional media, Gen Xers (those who are in Generation X) are digital savvy, too. They spend a lot of their time on Facebook as much as they watch TV. 

Also known as the smallest generation, Generation Xers’ use their smartphones with a purpose in mind, either for work or their personal relationships, rather than just entertainment. According to Mobile Marketer, this generation likes to use apps for travel, health, lifestyle, parenting, and dating.

Gen Y or Millennials

Generation Y or millennials are the most confident when it comes to using their phones, mostly because they know the tricks to have control over their gadgets. According to eMarketer, this generation is still using digital devices heavily and tends to stick with familiar apps.

While they still go to physical stores, most millennials are online shopping, too, with some only buying if recommended by their network, as reported by AdEspresso. 

Compared to the other generations, millennials will more likely share their location using apps, as long as they are provided with information on how their data is used. For example, some millennials are okay with sharing their location to weather apps or service apps for transportation. 

Gen Z

With 98% of this generation owning a smartphone, an average Gen Z person has owned one by ten years old, according to OpenBack. Through their reactions to social media and other digital channels, it is clear that Generation Z has taken a different turn from the previous generation. Because they are more aware of cyberspace’s dangers, they choose apps where their content can be set to private or only have it there temporarily.

Gen Z prefers apps like Tiktok, Snapchat, and Instagram and uses them frequently than other generations. They would also pay for an account that offers premium content or service as they have grown up with smartphones on their hand and subscriptions from known apps like Netflix and Spotify within arm’s reach.

Which generation should your target market be?

Each of these generations has its own pain point. You can help either one generation or every one of them. However, you have to identify how. 

If you have an app idea and don’t know where to start so that it can be useful to any of these generations, we’d love to help you out! At Gadai, we will build your app idea into an actual app. Talk to us how.