A recent study by Google reveals what Gen Z thinks is “cool.” It’s important to study this because what kids think is “cool” represents their values, expectations and what appeals to them. It gives us a glimpse inside their minds.
As you look through these findings, it’s important to remember that Gen Z has never known a world without the Internet. Everything is just one click away. They’ve also never known a world without terrorism or global warming. They are the most informed while empathetic generation ever. They highly value information and connection as you’ll see in the findings.
Social Media Rankings by Gen Z
- Instagram (59.6%)
- Snapchat (56.4%)
- Facebook (52.8%)
- Google (42.2%)
- Twitter (34.4%)
- Pinterest (26.6%)
Celebrities (most mentioned)
- Steph Curry
- Emma Watson
- Selena Gomez
- Chance the Rapper
- Ariana Grande
Music (most popular)
- Twenty One Pilots
- Fall Out Boy
- Beyonce
- Drake
- The Beatles
- Cold Play
- Panic at the Disco
Smartphones
- ios (42.3%)
- Android (41.3%)
- none (9.6%)
- other (3.9%)
- windows (3.1%)
Clothes
Shoes are the currency of Gen Z. Top three brands…
- Jordan
- Converse
- Vans
Video Games
- The Legend of Zelda
- COD Black Ops
- Grand Theft Auto
- Pokemon
- Minecraft
- CS:Go
Media/Entertainment
- YouTube
- Netflix
- Spotify
- Hulu
Most Watched Sports/Outdoor Activities
- Football
- Basketball
Most Played Sports/Outdoor Activities
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Running
Food & Drink
- Pizza
- Oreos
- Chips
- Ice cream
Top 10 Coolest Brands
- YouTube
- Netflix
- Xbox
- Oreo
- GoPro
- Playstation
- Doritos
- Nike
- Chrome
Comparison of what Gen Z considers cool versus what Millennials (their parents) think is cool:
- Chick-fil-a (Gen Z) vs. In-N-Out (Millennials)
- Coke cooler than Pepsi for both
- McDonalds is cooler for Millennials than for Gen Z
- Car brands are cooler for Millennials than for Gen Z
- Millennials think Tesla is cooler
- Uber is cooler for Millennials
- Xbox (Gen Z) vs. Playstation (Millennials)
Google is serious and functional for Millennials. For Gen Z, it’s fun and functional.
Why Gen Z thinks YouTube is cool:
- variety
- breadth of videos available
- keeps connected and in the know from news to DIY videos to tutorials
Why Gen Z thinks Chrome is cool:
- quick access to information
- fast, easy to use, reliable
Why Gen Z thinks Netflix is cool:
- well priced
- well stocked
Why Gen Z think Oreos are cool:
- variety of delicious flavors
- cute, funny marketing
Ministries that are wise will look at these findings and ask themselves the following questions…
1. How can we use these findings to better connect with today’s kids?
2. How can we use these findings to more effectively communicate God’s Word to kids?
3. What are we doing that today’s kids would consider “not cool”? Are there any areas of our ministry that are dated and need to be brought up to speed?
This article originally appeared here.
