Out of all US generations, Gen Z is willing to pay the most ($229.14 per month) for websites, apps, and online services if they could not access them for free (no ads or subscription fee), according to November 2023 data from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB).
Consumers care about sustainability, but often aren’t willing to buy environmentally friendly products if they’re deemed lower quality, especially if it costs more. One solution for retailers and consumers is resale, an industry worth $108.64 billion in 2024, per our December 2023 forecast. Not all environmental initiatives have to be at the consumer level, though.
TikTok often gets all the attention, with headlines trumpeting it as Gen Z’s new search engine. But the reality is more nuanced.
Over half (51%) of Gen Z consumers worldwide use social media to look up a brand versus 45% who turn to search engines, per GWI Core data from 2023.
Some of Gen Z’s favorite social media platforms claim a similar share of young users; but how they spend their time on the platforms vary, prompting marketers to align their strategies and investments accordingly. Instagram dominates direct messaging, while YouTube takes the lead on livestreaming and TikTok maintains its stronghold on short-form video. We delve into the three insights, with an actionable takeaway for marketers.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss in what instances Gen Zers prefer TikTok over Instagram, Snapchat's relevance for young folks, and how much we anticipate young people will soon pull back from social media. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Minda Smiley.
55% of Gen Z adults access streaming TV through someone else’s subscription, according to a December 2023 DISQO study.
"Delulu"—slang for delusional—is a popular Gen Z refrain used to describe achieving outcomes through the power of positive thinking. But Gen Zers’ delulu approach isn’t working for their financial lives.
Gen Z consumers are tech-savvy digital natives that feel more comfortable searching for products on social platforms like TikTok over traditional search engines like Google. Even when they’re shopping in-store, they employ technology to help them, browsing mobile phones and using self-checkout to make the shopping experience more seamless.
If you’re trying to appeal to Gen Z, “hire Gen Zers,” said Jennifer Quigley-Jones, CEO and founder of influencer marketing agency Digital Voices. Whether making social media content for brand-owned accounts or working with influencers, marketers that want to sell to Gen Z need to work with Gen Zers.
Brands and retailers are responding to shifts in alcohol consumption, particularly those of the growing Gen Z demographic as they establish habits and steer the industry’s future. With younger people drinking less and mid-level beverages waning in popularity, product diversification is becoming an even bigger business imperative.
Sometimes, consumers don’t behave how we expect. Despite their digital-native status, Gen Zers still shop in-store, while baby boomers are all about new-kid-on-the-block Temu. And though they’re still mostly children, Gen Alphas are making their mark on the retail landscape.
Ulta Beauty is using in-store vending machines to bring more joy to the shopping experience, and AI enables it to analyze more customer data for personalization. The retailer is also training its store associates to engage younger beauty consumers.
To out-influence Gen Zers’ favorite financial social media creators, banks should mimic certain finfluencer strategies.
The top three tasks that boomers Internet users find technology important for are managing money (cited by 73% of respondents), staying informed with current events (69%), and keeping their home secure (59%), per an October 2023 Razorfish survey conducted by GWI.
Clothing is the top category across age and gender. According to the December 2023 Insider Intelligence Ecommerce Survey (conducted by Bizrate Insights), more than half of respondents in each group reported buying clothing online at least once in the past month
The “The Sopranos” turns 25 this year, and the “mob wife” look—big hair, fur coats, animal prints, and lots of gold jewelry—is back and trending on TikTok.
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching (a helpful reminder), and ahead of the romantic holiday, Sweethearts put out a collection of “situationship” hearts with “messages as blurry as your relationships.” The candies are targeted at Gen Zers in an aim to get buy-in from consumers who may not be head over heels for celebrating Valentine’s Day.
Gen Alpha’s obsession with skincare is driving beauty sales: Younger shoppers are gravitating toward premium brands and spending more time browsing the aisles at Sephora.