Back to School: Why are app makers targeting university students?

It’s hard for a lot of us to believe, but the vast majority of the students heading to University this year were born after the year 2000. With these Generation Z'ers heading off to college and university for the first time, it appears that the apps they love are looking at ways to make their lives easier.

Which apps are making these changes?

Two major companies on the app market today are designing features on their universally used technology that is intended to be used exclusively by college students. The first to make this move was Tinder, which has made a version of the dating app just for college users. The second is Instagram with the platform allowing students to ‘join’ their college on the app. This allows users to meet and socialise with fellow students through the image sharing network.

How will this technology benefit students?

The two apps both have different aims, but are equally popular with 18 to 30-year-olds. For Tinder, these measures will create a microclimate for students who wish to only date within their age bracket, and will also enable them to find eligible singles who go to their school. This means, in theory, that users will be safer when it comes to meeting strangers, as they should know who they’re meeting up with thanks to seeing their profiles through the app.

As for Instagram; again, the idea is to create an online community. It’s important to feel like you’re a part of something, especially during college and university years, so by allowing students to join it will take the guesswork out of making friends. Making friends is one of the biggest worries that students who are heading to further education for the first time face, so anything to make that easier would be a bonus.

How can this help your business?

The student market has long been one worth catering for, and, with an ever tech-savvy generation of members, this is one group who responds to apps very positively. Developing new and innovative ways to help students be more social, find their way around new cities, discover new people or places of interest get more organised with their studies is a fantastic way to reap the benefits of this market.

Expect to see more savvy app developers looking at ways to tap into this market and cater for the tech friendly Generation Z as the year goes on.