Gen Z Research

Gen Z is the largest generation segment in the U.S., making up 25% of the population and the most racially diverse in history, with nearly half identifying as other than non-Hispanic White

Gen Z is the most diverse generation in American history, with nearly half identifying as racial or ethnic minorities. This diversity is reflected in their values and priorities, as Gen Z consumers are more vocal about social justice and gender and identity nonconformity than previous generations. Digital-first, this generation has grown up in the age of social media, as evidenced by high consumption levels across multiple devices, often simultaneously.

Despite their independence, Gen Z consumers still look to their parents and friends for advice and guidance when making purchase decisions. This means that brands that want to reach Gen Z need to also focus on building relationships with their parents and friends.



  • The Next Car Buyer Might Not Be Who You Think
    What our latest research reveals about who’s buying, what matters to them, and where automotive brands can reach them. If you work in the automotive industry, here's a question worth...
  • AI May Be Reproducing Historical Inequalities
    Being data-driven doesn't mean being bias-free. In a recent episode of The New Mainstream Podcast, ThinkNow Co-Founder and host Mario Carrasco spoke with Tim Turner, Director of Insights and Analytics...
  • In the Age of AI, Human Ingenuity Matters More Than Ever
    Ann Poulose of Epsilon explores cultural complexity, media fragmentation, artificial intelligence, and the human connections reshaping marketing. In a new episode of The New Mainstream Podcast, Mario Carrasco, Co-Founder of...
  • The Holiday Shopping Funnel is Dead
    AI, culture and new behaviors are creating different paths to purchase. One season. Different shoppers. Different decisions. Based exclusively on ThinkNow Holiday Shopping 2026: Multicultural Consumer Study, a national study...
  • Why Culture Beats Demographics
    In a recent conversation on The New Mainstream Podcast, ThinkNow Co-Founder Mario Carrasco sat down with Matt Lawler, VP of Data & Insights, Global Partnerships at AEG, to talk about...
  • Holiday Shopping 2026: Hispanic Shoppers Plan to Spend More and AI Joins the Gift Hunt
    The Holidays are upon us again. It seems they come faster every year. This holiday season comes after a summer of high gas prices so we were curious to know...