Technology has become a strong part of modern life, shaping the way we communicate, share information, and spend our time. Everyone is influenced by technology in different ways. Whether it’s sending snaps on Snapchat, scrolling through TikTok, or buying items on Amazon, these platforms consume a lot of time. From smartphones to smart homes, technological advancements are becoming harder to escape.
Students and teachers at Highlands High School were asked what apps they used the most and which app they believed was the most used. Each generation uses different apps, but some apps are used by all ages.
“Teens spend a lot of time on any of the social media apps, and I feel like TikTok is a big thing. I like TikTok, and people around my parents’ age probably like Facebook more,” Spanish Teacher Ellen Buchanan said.
Instagram is one of the most used social media apps in the world. Many people say that Instagram is essential in their lives.
“Instagram would be an app I can’t live without because I have a lot of friends from college, and we all went our separate ways. It lets me get to see what they’re doing nowadays,” Health teacher Kyle Finfrock said.
As of 2024, Instagram has two billion active users worldwide, and the average person in the United States tends to spend an average of 33 minutes on Instagram per day.
“I probably can’t live without Instagram because it’s the one that I’m on the most out of all of them,” Caleb Gubser (9) said.
Some apps may be addictive, but our everyday lives are surrounded by technology.
“I think that Instagram is my guilty pleasure; it is something I know I shouldn’t rely on, but I do. I keep telling myself I need to get rid of it, but every time I open my phone, it’s the first thing I go to,” Buchanan said.
TikTok has also become incredibly popular, especially among teens and students. The app engages individuals with videos and easy-to-use networks. It allows users to express themselves in countless ways, like dances, lip syncs, trends, and many more.
“TikTok is just so entertaining, and the drama there, it’s my everyday thing to watch,” Addyson Kent (11) said.
The app’s viral content keeps people coming back for more, making it one of the most influential social media platforms today.
Additionally, Snapchat is a popular app that is used mostly by teens to keep in touch with their friends.
“Snapchat is probably my most used app because it’s a lot easier to communicate with people and just be able to talk to everyone at once,” Lacey Grassette (11) said.
Snapchat is used all over the world by people of all ages to stay connected with one another.
“I think the most used app is Snapchat, and I feel like some people, even my age and my parents’ age, use Snapchat,, so I would say Snapchat,” Buchanan said.
When people think about apps, most would probably think of social media platforms, but it turns out that different generations of people use other apps a lot more often than social media. For example, apps such as Amazon or other shopping apps tend to receive more attention than social media sites at times.
“I use a lot of apps, but my most used app would be Amazon,” English teacher Katie Simon said.
There are also a lot of other apps people tend not to think twice about. Without convenient apps such as Vemno, Doordash, and Waze, life would be much harder for many. Students and teachers also use a variety of apps to keep up to date with what’s going on in the world around them.
“In high school, smartphones weren’t really a thing. I am now able to stay in contact with my friends who live in Spain, and now I can video call them all the time,” Buchanan said. “I think that it has helped connect people from all over the world.”
