By
Bella Druckman,
a writer at the Strategist covering Gen Z shopping habits and fashion.
She joined the Strategist in 2024. Previously, she wrote about gifts at Shop Today.
Gone are the days when parents searched for scribbled circles in catalogues to decipher their kids’ wish lists. These days, tweens and teens — mostly girls — aren’t even using Pinterest or their Notes app; they’re turning to a more streamlined wish-list-making platform called Giftful. There are other wish-list platforms, like GoWish and Giftster, but Giftful is by far the most popular. In fact, the seven teens I interviewed for this story said some variation of, “Oh, all my friends use Giftful.” Most teens make lists for your typical gifting events — birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, and graduation parties — but it’s become increasingly popular to make aspirational lists for every aspect of teenage life, from dorm-room essentials and game-day outfits to back-to-school supplies and sorority-date party dresses. One teen I spoke to has a list that’s simply titled “For the future,” which she has loaded with dresses, matching sets, and tank tops.
