Fluent College Student Survey Reveals Rising, Falling Trends among Gen Z; New Behaviors Reflect Social and Economic Realities
(firmenpresse) - BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/04/17 -- As the first generation of true digital natives, Generation Z is solidifying a number of consumer trends initiated by their Millennial predecessors, with seamless adoption of new technologies and expectations of immediacy ever more the rule than the exception. At the same time, according to leading college marketing and insights agency , this generation is coming of age during more global economic and political uncertainty than any other generation has faced in a century, making them more cautious and disciplined than they might first seem. The agency released results from its second annual survey of 500+ U.S. college students this week.
"There are huge creative opportunities in reaching Gen Z if you appreciate the tightrope they walk," says Fluent EVP Michael Carey. "Our digital capabilities provide instant gratification on so many fronts. Yet the world is surprisingly similar to that of their great-grandparents, who were shaped by the Depression and the World Wars. Given that Gen Z represents a quarter of the U.S. population, and is even more significant worldwide, it is critical to understand what this mindset will mean on several fronts as today's college students mature as consumers and into the workforce."
Gen Z increasingly works harder and shops smarter, and brands keyed into college student interests and preferences are already enjoying a boost, while others may need to rethink strategies heading into 2017.
. The stereotypic past-time of students is on the decline, with the number of students saying they do not play video/online games rising from 38% to 44% over the previous year, and the number using gaming apps dropping from 63% to 53%. At the same time, not only do 75% of respondents work, but the number with part-time jobs increased slightly, rising from 55% to 59%, while those working at internships, which tend to be unpaid, dipped from 24% to 21%. Students are working more hours per week at whatever job they do hold, as well, and 15% work full-time.
. The number of students walking around cash-free continued to rise, up to nearly one of five at any given time. And while 40% used to carry $20 or less, now 50% carry smaller amounts. Those with credit cards, especially multiple cards, rose, while checking and savings accounts decreased year-over-year. And Venmo replaced PayPal as the primary method for electronic payment, moving from 34% of payers to 65%.
, . Some 54% prefer in-store over online shopping, down from 62% last year. When Gen Zs shop online, 62% cite Amazon as their top choice. Wherever they shop, 75% of students use coupons; 95% seek to pay less than full-price at least some of the time, with 43% refusing to pay full-price at least three-quarters of the time. Interestingly, 55% say an ad on social media has influenced a purchasing decision, up from 42%.
In only 18 months, use of general cable as a programming source dropped from 42% of students to 25% of students. Netflix continues to lead the pack, used by 71% of students. Rocketing into second place from a bare mention last year, Amazon Prime is used by 36% of students. iTunes as a source dropped from 12% to 9% of students.
. Music streaming on Spotify in particular continues to rise, increasing from 40% of students in 2015 to 50% in 2016. As a source for new music, radio's influence dropped from 49% of students discovering music there, down to 31%. The three top sources for getting introduced to new tunes are friends (56%), social media (49%) and YouTube (48%).
The number of students who never cook for themselves is dropping, from 19% last year to 13% this year. The number who are cooking at least 3 to 4 meals a week rose, from 26% to 32%. When they choose take-out, the top apps are Yelp/Eat24, which is used by 32% of students, up from 25% last year, and GrubHub, at 14%.
Small screens are personal theaters. In 2015, 42% of students cited mobile device use of 1-5 hours per day. Now 40% of students cite use of 6-10 hours per day, up from 35% last year. Students also increasingly think they are on their devices too much, with two-thirds believing that to be true. Laptop use is declining for viewing content as mobile devices enjoy slight but steady increases.
slightly from 57% to 54%. Most still own or lease a car, usually used, and leases of used cars was the category that saw the greatest shift, going from less than 1% of students last year to 4.4% this year.
as ownership decreases, with 78% having used Uber (up from 57%), and Lyft use increasing from 25% to 46% of students.
If students have to get to a destination within 30 minutes, those with cars would drive, a fifth of students overall would walk, 13% would first turn to public transportation, and about the same number would first turn to ride sharing.
When students head back to their rooms, they head to social media. Most check in with friends (83%), or news (41%). After that, they work on career networking and event organization.
. Facebook is used regularly by 36% of students, down from 38%. However, it still leads the pack, over Instagram (23%, down from 28%) and Snapchat, which rose from a few percentage points to 19%.
. CNN is the dominant news source among college students with 18% saying it's the best app for news, followed by the New York Times, which rose slightly from 16% to 17%. Students citing Buzzfeed as a news source rose from 11% to 13%.
When students graduate, some 50% want to work for a mid-sized company with between 51 and 500 employees. Those seeking to work for smaller companies declined slightly, as did those who are considering starting their own businesses. It could be that even though students want a workplace that feels more personal, they are also risk-averse, so mid-size employers are ideal!
Most expect starting salaries between $50,000 and $60,000.
The 2016 Fluent Annual Survey was conducted October 17 - November 17, 2016 and drew 501 completed responses from college students representing all regions of the country. The 2015 Fluent Annual Survey was conducted in May 2015, and drew 507 completed responses from students nationwide.
Specializing in "translating brands for the college world," Fluent is a dedicated college marketing agency that works with clients who want to understand and engage College Market Consumers (CMCs) nationwide, both on- and off-campus. Fluent's exclusive partnership with the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) provides clients insider access to a network of nearly 1,000 colleges and universities. Fluent's capabilities include campus activities and programs, College Market Consumer insights, digital and social media strategy and activations, and experiential programs. Clients have included major brands such as Coffeemate, Microsoft, Vera Bradley, Uniqlo, Kellogg's, Macy's, Keurig, Zipcar, Kotex, Dove and L'Oreal. For more information, visit: .
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