The Daily: How Generations Use Social Media—Gen Z’s Actual Favorite Platform, The One Boomers are Adopting the Fastest, and More | Sep 17, 2024
Sep 17, 2024
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In this conversation, analyst Paola Flores-Marquez delves into social media trends across generations. She reveals that Gen Z's favorite platform is Instagram, while Boomers are rapidly adopting TikTok, spurred by their grandchildren. The discussion highlights how millennials are shifting away from their once-preferred apps. Flores-Marquez also examines Generation C's unique challenges shaped by the pandemic, including their adaptability and resilience, offering insights into the evolving landscape of social media usage.
Gen Z overwhelmingly prefers YouTube for social media engagement, surpassing platforms like Instagram and TikTok in popularity.
Millennials exhibit a decline in social media usage, favoring fewer platforms due to their busy lifestyles and evolving responsibilities.
Deep dives
Generational Differences in Social Media Usage
Social media usage varies significantly across generations, with Gen Z and millennials exhibiting distinct behaviors on various platforms. While Gen Z is rapidly adopting platforms like YouTube and Reddit, they are also making inroads into Instagram, overtaking millennials' dominance on this platform. Millennials, on the other hand, show a decline in social media engagement, often sticking to one or two main platforms due to busy lifestyles and responsibilities. This generational divide highlights how younger users are more exploratory and engaged with a wider range of social media options compared to their millennial counterparts.
The Rise of YouTube Among Younger Generations
YouTube has established itself as the preferred platform for Gen Z, with the vast majority engaging with the site regularly, surpassing even popular choices like Instagram and TikTok. This trend indicates a major cultural shift, as YouTube not only serves as an entertainment hub but also a learning platform for younger audiences. Given its accessibility and versatile content, YouTube's appeal continues to grow, especially among Gen Alpha, who are cultivating their formative social media habits on this platform. With such a strong foothold in digital habits, YouTube's influence on future generations is likely to remain significant.
Emerging Trends with Generation C
Generation C, also referred to as Generation COVID, is characterized by unique experiences shaped by the pandemic, resulting in distinct consumer behaviors and attitudes. This cohort, aged 14 to 21, demonstrates increased impatience and resilience, influenced by the abrupt changes they witnessed during their formative years. They are more critical of brands and their values, showing readiness to advocate for their ideals in purchasing decisions. As they age, their values may be tested, but the habits formed during this period are likely to shape their long-term interactions with brands and society as a whole.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss the social media platform that actually gets the most attention from Gen Z, why millennials are losing their native social app, the one boomers are adding to their smartphones the fastest, and more. Tune in to the discussion with host Marcus Johnson and our analyst Paola Flores-Marquez.