GenZ is the largest generation yet and they are truly digital natives. The attitudes and behaviors of Zs will have a huge impact on the future of technology. Grounded in data from hundreds of online research sessions, diaries, and interviews, learn what Gen Z really does online and the ways it will change how we design the experience.

1. flickr @daisy_vcm
Gen Z
and the future
of technology
@paminthelab
Change Sciences

2. selfiecity.net
25% of the
population
17 & under

3. PreK K Elementary Middle High College
Family
Friends
There are certain truths that span generations

4. But friendship
seems a bit
different
flickr @katNLM

5. Families are
maybe slightly
different
bet.com

6. Hey, the world is
kind of
different

7. 60% of GenZ
wants to
MAKE a difference
instagram @malalafund

8. So how is GenZ
Different?
youtube @thirdpew

9. It’s the
technology

10. 25%of their lives
in front of screens
flickr @wimi_karlstad
Halifax, 2013

11. 74%are
on mobile devices
flickr @agentsnj
Pew Research, 2013

12. 47%
in the bathroom
91%
school
84%
watching TV
92%
in bed
83%
walking
Sources: Google Insights, Harris Interactive & Pew Internet
75%
driving
phones everywhere

13. 79%show signs of emotional distress
when kept away from their devices
instagram @paminthelab
University of Maryland, 2014

14. Nomophobia, yeah I
think I have that.
Sara, 17
“

15. OK, whatever
What does this mean
for the
future of technology?

16. Kids, tweens, teens
Interviews, diaries, social
listening, public datasets

17. flickr @tormodspictures
Youth attitudes &
behaviors are an
Amplifier

18. THE INTERFACEPrivacyCommunity
CreativityCommunication
Five factors for the future of technology

19. The future of
community

20. Youth today have
Fewer hangouts

21. twitch @nyxeira
So They hangout online

22. Yes even the
Little zs

23. We do homework
together over Skype,
and talk about what
happened that day.
Video chat is like
hanging out.
Christina, 13 and Emma, 14
“
youtube @swiftvideosource

24. Instagram Twitter Facebook Snapchat Tumblr
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
Piper Jaffray, 2015 and Facebook Ads, 2014
Zs are truly social media natives
This is down 25% in 2014

25. Much is made of
DARK SOCIAL
flickr @eflorules

26. What I hate about
anonymous is all the
bad behavior. I mean
there is already a lot
of drama.
Anna, 15
“

27. Sometimes pranking
can be fun, but it’s
mostly just
embarrassing.
Brandon, 16
“

28. youtube @nigahiga
43% report being cyber-bullied
NCPC, 2014

29. GenZ doesn’t crave anonymity,
they want to explore identity
flickr @pistigriloxp

30. I have 4 different
Instagrams, two for
me, one is a shared
account, one for my
pets.
Ellie, 13
“

31. It’s not cool to post so
much, I delete posts
that didn’t get a lot of
likes or that just
aren’t me anymore.
Guess,16
“

32. Community is local &
community is global
flickr @laversentertainers

33. 26%have social
network friends in
other countries
JWT, 2013
flickr @sergesegal

34. Youth are entering grown-up conversations
Twitter, 2014
#Ferguson

36. If only we would imagine
talking to a real person
we would all get the
User Experience Post #54731
respect we deserve.

37. 82%would give up
their social media
friends for real friends
JWT,, 2013
flickr @pistigriloxp

38. In person
yeah, it’s still a thing

39. Let us control context
What does it mean for
the future of technology?

40. The future of
Communication

41. Texting
Voice calls
flickr @nanagyei

42. Google, 2014
55% of kids do talk to their phone daily
Google, 2014

43. The only email I ever
get is from my
grandparents or from
my apps.
Lizzy, 10
“

44. Emojis, Images, video
and yes, sometimes
words

45. What really confuses me
is when people think that
communicating is not a
User Experience Post #786549
conversation.

46. Experience something together
youtube @pewdiepie

47. CONVEY A MOOD
show rather than
describe

48. Stay Connected
even when there is
not much to say

49. Create a memory
a bond over time

50. Let us communicate
in the all ways
What does it mean for
the future of technology?

51. And don’t take
yourself too seriously
youtube @potterpuppetpals

52. The future of
PRIVACY

53. Early Adopters
of new social
networks & new tech,
like wearables

54. youtube @ceh313
really, they just want some space
ESCAPE

55. 70%admit to
hiding online activities
Common Sense Media, 2013
flickr @pistigriloxp

56. My dad doesn’t like
me watching TV on
my iPad so I hide it
on the last screen.
Eleanor, 6
“

57. Phones aren’t allowed,
but watches are still
OK. I can get texts in
class without being
obvious.
Madison, 11
“

58. 81%use privacy
settings & limit who
can see their posts
flickr @jimmym
Yahoo, 2013

59. Difficulty of using privacy
controls: hella
User Experience Post #54731

60. I don’t want random
people knowing all
about me, I use
Instagram Direct or
Snapchat a lot.
Tia, 14
“

61. Default to private
What does it mean for
the future of technology?

62. The future of
creativity

63. Play is about combining
off-screen and on-screen
tocaboca town

64. Zs Still get Bored
but it’s good for
them, right?

66. Zs prefer to do
anything but read
on a device
flickr @bensimo
Common Sense Media, 2014

67. But now they are
creating on screens
Halifax, 2013
flickr @pistigriloxp

68. GIFTING
they make things for
family & friends

69. They want to
share their stories
flickr @flickeringbrad

70. Leave it open
What does it mean for
the future of technology?

71. The future of
The interface

72. The use technology together,
so they learn more quickly
flickr @nanagyei

73. Ages 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Change Sciences 2015
The co-use curve

74. flickr @dlytle
Even so, Zs interact
idiosyncratically

75. They regularly use 5 screens
TV
Mobile Phone
Laptop
Desktop
iPod or music player
Gaming console
Tablet
E-Reader
72%
57%
JWT 2013
39%
Age 13-17
Age 8-12
72
72
76
39
50
28
33%
25
36
23
24%
28
38
13
11
4%4
31%
25
12%
5

76. 8 seconds
average attention span
Sparks & Honey, 2014
flickr @jacksw

77. flickr @flickeringbrad
12%less successful in
accomplishing what they
set out to do
NNGroup, 2013

78. That moment when
people think that I really
know what I’m doing
User Experience Post #36451
even if I’m confused.

79. Poor ergonomics
#droppingphone
#phonedroponface

80. Not enough space
so they delete
(they don’t get cloud storage
& they forgot their password)

81. They usually have the
worst devices in the house
flickr @doctabu

82. Design for the
worst case scenario
What does it mean for
the future of technology?

83. At the mall with
Let’s recap
& got an idea
&
to
data
&
& talked to
(Not really) &
&
For
&
with
on
If we
Because they are
& sometimes
Its not all
&
sux
for
(Gen )
&
But they
with
with
&
We
better for

84. Don’t be scared
1. context control
2. All the ways
3. default to privacy
4. leave it open
5. worst case scenario

85. flickr @mady
Gen Z
and the future
of technology
Pamela Pavliscak
@paminthelab
changesciences.com