Over half (57.8%) of US consumers prefer to use Google search over AI platforms like ChatGPT when they need a factual answer, according to a December 2024 survey from Pearl conducted by Censuswide.
When you think of tax season, gaming or dating probably don’t come to mind. But for H&R Block, flipping that narrative is part of a larger strategy to meet the next generation of taxpayers exactly where they are—whether it’s in a virtual mansion on Roblox or swiping right on Tinder.
Gen Z consumers are more likely to participate in economic boycotts: Their willingness to stop spending with their favorite brands over DEI and other issues should give retailers pause.
We list the key takeaways from EY’s survey of Gen Zers.
Tinder’s AI flirts now, but it has range: “The Game Game” helps users charm dates, but its real edge is tone-savvy tech fit for customer support or hiring.
A large majority of US adults under 35—60% of adults aged 18-24 and 62% of adults aged 25-34—mainly use a mobile app to interact with their bank, according to September 2024 data from Fico.
Baby boomers support their adult children at the expense of their retirement accounts.
50% of Black consumers say they’ve recently stopped shopping at companies with differing political views, the highest among racial demographics, generations, or political affiliations, according to a February Harris Poll cited by Axios.
GOBankingRates research examines what young adults do with their paychecks.
New Character AI feature offers opt-in parental reports: While better than nothing, teen users still control visibility—highlighting fragmented safety standards across AI chatbots.
Younger consumers increasingly prefer creator content over TV, film: A Deloitte study indicates that advertisers need to rethink their strategies to remain competitive.
70% of US adults believe tariffs will lead to higher prices on food, electronics, and other goods, but only 26% are stocking up on items they think will cost more, according to a February 2025 survey from Ipsos.
Roblox has been popular with young game players for years. It brings in tens of millions of players every day. As more marketers explore activations on the platform, best practices are starting to take shape.
Timing ad buys to seize on key engagement windows: Our Industry KPI data reveals Gen Z has predictable spikes in searches for apparel, gaming content.
Walmart is all in on metaverse commerce: The retailer partnered with Minecraft on an immersive gaming experience.
Weight loss drug ads are prevalent on digital media: But these ads are often misleading, and younger consumers are particularly at risk of falling for deceptive weight loss drug offerings.
Discord expands ad offerings: The company is launching Video Quests for mobile in June 2025, incentivizing ad engagement with in-game rewards as it broadens its advertiser appeal beyond gaming.
When Southwest Airlines announced they were charging for bags, Amtrak posted on X, “Guess we’re the only ones doing free baggage now.” The post, followed by more info on Amtrak’s baggage policy, is an example of what Amtrak senior manager of social media Nicolle Lopez calls its infotainment strategy, designed to educate and entertain at the same time.
As customers grab the same grocery staples they have for decades, Walmart is betting that gamifying the experience will challenge those habits. The retailer plans to launch Walmart Unlimited, a three-part miniseries that features the entrepreneurs behind its products. Launched last month on Spatial, the game includes full commerce integration that enables in-app purchases.
As the mall's place in consumers' lives changes, brands are left to focus on bringing people in through experiences and attractions, or on forging their identities outside of those retail spaces. "A lot of people are going to malls, but they're not necessarily going there to shop," said our analyst Rachel Wolff on a recent episode of "Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail." Instead, people are visiting malls for restaurants, to socialize, or for experiential attractions.