How Generation Z Uses Technology and Social Media

According to Pew Research, only 14 percent of U.S. adults had access to the Internet in 1995. By 2014 that number was 87 percent. Generation Z grew up during the most accelerated and game-changing periods of technological advancements in human history.

Generation Z doesn’t know a world where a smart device has been outside of arm’s reach. In fact, Generation Z spends an average of 3 hours 38 minutes online on smartphones, almost 50 minutes longer than the average Internet user.

Having 24/7 access to the world’s information via a super computer in their pocket has rewired how Generation Z problem-solves, networks, communicates, learns, buys, and ultimately how they will show up in the workplace.

20 Insights into How Generation Z Uses Technology and Social Media

How Generation Z Uses Technology: They are early mobile adopters, native to messaging, expect ubiquitous connectivity, seek on-demand content, and prioritize gaming.

45 percent of Generation Z in the U.S. receive a mobile service plan between the ages of 10 and 12.
72 percent of Generation Z have access to all mobile wireless services including voice, messaging, and data.
Generation Z's top mobile activities include text messaging (81 percent), downloading apps (59 percent), playing preinstalled games and mobile internet/accessing websites (tied at 53 percent) and live video calling (46 percent).
66 percent of Generation Z owns iPhones, and 81 percent expect their next phones to be iPhones.
91 percent of Generation Z have their digital devices in bed in the evening.
40 percent of Generation Z say working Wi-Fi is more important to them than working bathrooms.
32 percent of Generation Z would rather go three days without a shower than go a week without their phone.
Generation Z in the U.S. are most likely to receive gaming devices and TVs at ages 4 to 7.
66 percent of Generation Z lists gaming as their main hobby.
92 percent of Generation Z college students have access to Netflix and 38 percent of Generation Z consume daily video via Netflix.

How Generation Z Uses Social Media: They are authentic story seekers, fearful of missing out (FOMO), and video-centric.

The top websites/apps used by Generation Z are YouTube (91 percent), Gmail (75 percent), Snapchat (66 percent), Instagram (65 percent), and Facebook (61 percent).
71 percent of Generation Z uses Snapchat more than six times per day, and 51 percent use it 11 times per day.
A quarter of Generation Z say that Snapchat is “essential for their relationships.”
Generation Z uses up to five different social channels per day.
Three-quarters of Generation Z watch YouTube videos at least weekly.
42 percent of Generation Z say social media affects self-esteem, compared to 31 percent of Millennials, 23 percent of Generation X, and 20 percent Baby Boomers.
82 percent of Generation Z think carefully about what they put on social media.
44 percent of Generation Z checks in on social media at least hourly, with 7 percent checking in more often than every fifteen minutes.
1 in 10 of Generation Z would rather go three days without refreshing their underwear than go three days without refreshing their Twitter feed.
1 in 5 of Generation Z spend more time refreshing their Twitter feed than even reading it.