Generation App

Investors, advertisers, and retailers have about 11 billion reasons to keep their eyes on Pinterest. That number, by the way, is Pinterest's whopping valuation, making it one of the most valuable companies in the world. So why is this internet bookmarking site such a goldmine? Find out on this week’s episode of Generation App.

Twitch has an average 1.7 million broadcasters streaming each month and in 2015 Twitch viewers watched more than 459,000 years worth of video collectively. That's a lot. On this week's episode of Generation App, we discuss what makes the Amazon-owned streaming site so popular.

By now, the internet buzz, strange behavior on the streets, and watercooler talk have probably alerted you to the overnight sensation that is Pokémon Go. No, you haven't traveled back in time to 1997. This is an entirely new brand of Pokémania that went viral in just a few days by hitting a sweet spot of nostalgia, new technology, and shareability. It rose to the top of iTunes charts faster than you could evolve your Jigglypuff into a Wigglytuff — and if that sounds like utter nonsense to you, tune into this week's episode of Generation App.

WhatsApp has quickly but quietly become the world’s most popular messaging app. It has a base of over a billion users worldwide and was acquired by Facebook for $19B, in the biggest acquisition of a VC-backed startup to date. Tune in to hear what exactly makes WhatsApp so powerful.

Tinder is spreading like wildfire, facilitating over 26 million matches and 1.4 billion swipes per day. The swiping model has been replicated in apps for everything from job hunting to shoe shopping and "swipe right," is easily recognizable slang among millennials. On this episode of Generation App we dig into "hookup culture," new features Tinder is testing, plus GeekWire co-founders' tips for reporter Taylor Soper to up his online dating game.

If you ask the average person in their 20s how they watch TV, there’s a good chance they won’t say cable. The rise of stand-alone streaming services has made it possible to get great content without a cable subscription. On this week’s episode, we’ll go over the pros and cons of cutting the cord and what it means for the future of cable TV.

Over the past two decades, Craigslist has maintained its market share in the online classified space, despite neglecting to make any major updates to its interface or optimize for mobile. With 20 billion page views per month, it's hard to imagine a competitor challenging Craigslist. But some think its refusal to adapt to 21st century standards is its Achilles heel. On this week's episode of Generation App, we talk about the strange, enduring legacy of Craigslist, and whether its new competitors pose a real threat.

Traffic, like root canals, mosquitos, and papercuts, is a universally hated phenomenon. So it stands to reason that an app for “outsmarting traffic together” would be adopted as a win for everyone. Why then, is the navigation app, Waze, so controversial?

It may be hard to believe, but Twitter is nearly a decade old. The platform has seen its ups and downs over the years, but it seems to have found a successful niche in news junkies. So on this special episode, we’re bringing together three generations of journalists to chat about where twitter fits into the news media ecosystem.

You're at restaurant with friends and the bill comes. How do you split it up? For many people in their 20s, the answer is Venmo. This week on Generation App, we discuss the meteoric rise of millennials' favorite mobile payment app.

Snapchat — the photo sharing tool that’s mesmerized young users and mystified older generations is getting a lot of attention. The app has an estimated 200 million monthly users and is the fastest-growing social network. This week we make the case for the app GeekWire’s John Cook lambasts as “a complete waste of time.”

How do you listen to music? Apple, Amazon, Pandora, and a handful of others are all vying for your business as a music consumer. But one service has established a clear lead in this competitive industry. This week on Generation App we’ll talk about why Spotify is outpacing the competition.