Older generations rely more heavily on family, friends, and TV ads to learn about new products. Personal recommendations are the most powerful purchase drivers for Gen Z as well, but social media—which includes ads, videos, and online influencers—is increasingly important to product discovery.
- Gen Z taps a wider array of online and offline sources—including ratings and reviews, social media, online influencers, and in-person experiences.
- Gen Z makes little distinction between online, mobile, and offline sources and zigzags effortlessly among them to find information.
- In June 2021, half of US Gen Z internet users agreed that social networks were important information sources for shopping decisions.