• Almost three in 5 Gen Zs (51%) are searching for new methods to combine know-how into their day by day lives.
• 95% of Gen Z shoppers agree that psychological well being is simply as essential to take care of as bodily well being.
• 64% of Gen Z shoppers spend extra time on social media than they do watching TV or motion pictures.
• Solely 3% really use the Metaverse.

Regardless of being digital natives, Gen Z shoppers have began to exhibit some self-awareness and are questioning if all-encompassing tech utilization is sweet for them. New Mintel analysis signifies that whereas 51% of Gen Z Canadians (aged 13-17) cite a want to combine extra tech into their lives, almost the identical proportion (47%) additionally agree that social media and enormous quantities of tech utilization have a destructive influence on their psychological well being. The truth is, 47% say they’re making an attempt to restrict their social media utilization.  

When inspecting the platforms that Gen Z makes use of, all of them rely closely on visible interplay: Mintel analysis exhibits Gen Z Canadians have interaction with YouTube essentially the most (77%), adopted by Instagram (75%), Snapchat (58%), and TikTok (52%).

Michael Lloy, Senior Know-how Analyst, Mintel Experiences Canada, mentioned:
“Our analysis exhibits that because of considerably extra time spent on these platforms, a portion of Gen Z has turn into extra conscious of their psychological well being and are exploring methods to scale back their utilization of social media. This means that there’s rising discontent amongst youthful shoppers concerning the destructive results that social media has on their lives, which can immediate radical behaviour shifts away from social media as they age. This may require manufacturers to suppose strategically about how and the place they market to Gen Z shoppers as they age in an effort to develop and maintain an engaged and dependable viewers.”

Decreased display screen time in favor of higher psychological well being
Gen Z shoppers use of social media is a behavioural trait that units them aside from different demographics. They’re a closely plugged-in era with 51% saying they’re on the hunt to seek out know-how to make their lives simpler, extra environment friendly, or extra thrilling. What’s extra, 64% say they have interaction with social media greater than TV/motion pictures. 

Nonetheless, almost half of Gen Z (47%) agree that social media has a internet destructive impact on their psychological well being and almost all (95%) agree that psychological well being is simply as essential to take care of as bodily well being.

“Gen Z lowering their display screen time because of psychological well being considerations presents a chance for manufacturers to lean into the visibility of their values in an effort to be seen to assist causes that Gen Z cares about. Each Millennials and Gen Zs are closely plugged-in generations, however there are just a few, notable variations on the subject of social media. First, whereas Gen Zs are digital natives, most Millennials should not, and this informs the velocity at which every era adapts to new know-how. Life levels are one other piece of the puzzle. Millennials are a cut up era. Some Older Millennials are married, householders, have youngsters, or some mixture of the three, whereas some Youthful Millennials are nearer to Gen Z of their life levels. These key variations will likely be essential for manufacturers to recollect as they market to Gen Z shoppers transferring ahead.”

The metaverse fails to make an influence 
Since its launch in late 2021, the metaverse has been a well-liked subject for manufacturers however has made much less of a splash amongst shoppers. Mintel analysis exhibits solely 3% of Canadian Gen Z shoppers really use the metaverse and 26% have by no means heard of the metaverse prior to now. 

“As many Canadian shoppers are getting again to their pre-pandemic life, together with in-person gatherings, the shortage of eagerness to work together with the metaverse has been evident. Total, solely 15% of shoppers, on common, may even envision a world the place they work together utilizing the know-how, that means manufacturers that presently or plan to leverage the metaverse of their advertising technique have some work in entrance of them in an effort to persuade shoppers of the metaverse’s usefulness and applicability to their day by day lives,” concluded Lloy.

Extra analysis on Gen Z’s attitudes in direction of tech and interviews with the analyst can be found upon request from the Mintel Press Workplace. For these concerned with buying the total report, please go to the Mintel Retailer.