Demographics

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.

Reddit's IPO faces hurdles with a predominantly white user base: A shift to more inclusive strategies could expand its appeal and relevance.

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.

Brands pivot towards genuine engagement with Black consumers: It’s move prompted by past performative marketing—oh, and a $1.8 trillion market opportunity.

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.

Gen Z embraces Do Not Disturb mode to combat notification anxiety: The trend indicates a societal shift towards mental health and digital well-being.

"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.

European regulators open an investigation into TikTok: The app’s potential harmful impact on teens and moderation failures have raised regulator scrutiny.

Amazon struggles to get on the same page as Gen Z consumers: Nearly half say they’re trying to shop less with the retailer, although Amazon retains a clear edge over other ecommerce players.

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.