蘑菇AV

Interest is also widespread on the consumer front, with 57% of US shoppers interested in having AI agents purchase recommended products on their behalf, per Salesforce. This share jumps to 81% for Gen Z shoppers. Our take: We expect to see many more agentic AI announcements this year as payment providers and retailers try to stay on the cutting edge.

Gen Z shoppers embrace Temu, Shein, and TikTok Shop: 1 in 4 makes a purchase at a Chinese online marketplace at least once a week, as their array of cheap, trendy goods proves impossible for the price-sensitive cohort to resist.

Urban Outfitters teams up with Nike for 鈥淥n Rotation鈥�: The Gen Z-focused in-store experience features an assortment of Nike apparel and footwear curated for UO鈥檚 audience.

Value was the name of the game in 2024 as retailers scrambled to keep consumers shopping. But that wasn鈥檛 the only thing on retailers鈥� minds this year.

Gen Zers are most likely to experience a problem with the payment method. These concerns could weaken BNPL transaction growth

Gen Zers continue to overtake millennials in several prominent digital activities and platforms, including social commerce, podcasts, and Instagram.

The news: TikTok tweens and teens who make popular 鈥淕et ready with me鈥� skincare routine videos may be harming their skin. The takeaway: Amid the closer social media scrutiny, skincare health brands should be clear about products that are not made for young skin. Social media teams need to be aware and proactive when interacting with tween and teen content creators.

Gen Zers are driving growth in both emerging and traditional payment methods as they embrace cards, BNPL, and digital wallets. Payment providers must now align their offerings with Gen Z鈥檚 preferences as the cohort鈥檚 spending power grows.

Digital banks lead in attracting Gen Z, with 54% preferring non-traditional providers for real-time payouts and aligned social values. However, traditional banks are adapting. They're boosting digital capabilities, like Truist's mobile ID verification, and personalizing experiences, such as U.S. Bank's targeted social media marketing and immediate rewards. Traditional FIs leverage existing strengths, emphasizing low fees and an omnichannel approach that blends digital convenience with in-person options. Winning Gen Z requires a strategic mix of digital excellence, relevant marketing that resonates, and human-centric personalization, delivering tailored and empowering financial interactions for long-term loyalty.

Millennials and Gen Zers can finance snow sport luxury with BNPL鈥攂oosting Affirm鈥檚 non-retail volume.

The news: Pinterest is partnering with Instacart to allow advertisers to power their campaigns using the latter鈥檚 first-party data鈥攁 move that will enhance the value of both companies鈥� ad platforms while advancing Pinterest鈥檚 shoppable ambitions. Our take: Pinterest鈥檚 ability to engage the all-important Gen Z cohort, along with its role as a source of inspiration and product discovery, is making it a more strategic asset for brands and retailers. As economic uncertainty drives companies to be more careful with their ad dollars, Pinterest鈥檚 ability to reach audiences at every stage of their customer journey鈥攏ow bolstered by access to Instacart鈥檚 first-party data鈥攑ositions it as an even more valuable partner.

Centralized payment options and automating spend threshold One Credential can help to keep PayPal products top-of-wallet for Gen Z.

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鈥檙e shopping in-store, they employ technology to help them, browsing mobile phones and using self-checkout to make the shopping experience more seamless.

Every marketer wants to know: What do Gen Z consumers care about? How do they shop? What motivates them to make a purchase?

Gen Z is Pinterest鈥檚 largest and fastest-growing demographic, according to the platform. To cater to its younger consumers, Pinterest is focusing on inclusivity, search, and AI-powered curation. Here are five key stats from a recent Pinterest report on Gen Z and what they mean for brands trying to reach Gen Z consumers across digital channels.

As Gen Zers鈥� buying power grows, retailers need to understand the best ways to connect and engage with them, whether that鈥檚 through leaning into product discovery or creating a more seamless payment process. We take a look at some of Gen Z鈥檚 shopping habits and what they mean for retailers.

Google continues to lose ground to Amazon: Amazon is holding steady as 蝉丑辞辫辫别谤蝉鈥� search engine of choice for products, even as TikTok and other social platforms attract Gen Z consumers.

The news: To effectively engage Gen Z, banks must offer more than just basic digital experiences. This generation demands instant gratification, expecting rapid account openings, quick loan decisions, and frictionless onboarding. Gen Z also prefers visual learning, gravitating toward video explanations and gamified education for financial literacy. Despite their digital fluency, they still value human connection for problem-solving, requiring quick access to live help. Our take: Banks should move beyond traditional "channels" or "products" and design a responsive, omnichannel ecosystem that delivers education, trust, and personalization in real time, fitting seamlessly into Gen Z鈥檚 lives.

In its new study 鈥淕en Z and the American Dream,鈥� social and advertising agency Adolescent Content was surprised to draw similarities between Gen Z and Boomers鈥攖wo generations often perceived as being at odds.

From Temu鈥檚 rise to their interest in dupes, Gen Z prioritized affordability and convenience in 2024. Gen Z consumers also showed interest in in-person shopping, but crowded stores may be limiting their trips to brick-and-mortar retail.

Gen Z leads in digital usage by most proportional measures. However, social network use cuts across categories, influencing video viewing and digital buying.

Gen Z shoppers diverge from the general population in terms of where they find and buy products, consumers are still into influencer-driven ads, and live shopping hasn鈥檛 taken off yet. Here are five charts to help elevate your social commerce strategy.