{"id":33104,"date":"2017-12-05T08:00:28","date_gmt":"2017-12-05T14:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/?p=33104"},"modified":"2025-05-14T13:34:41","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T18:34:41","slug":"wp-engine-study-reveals-generation-z-lives-digital-experiences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-engine-study-reveals-generation-z-lives-digital-experiences\/","title":{"rendered":"WP Engine Study Reveals Generation Z Lives Through Digital Experiences"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WP<\/p>\n

Please visit our Gen Z landing page<\/a> for the most up-to-date research and information about this topic.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Study with The Center for Generational Kinetics Shows The Digital World Must Increasingly Be More Entertaining, More Secure, More Predictive and More Personalized To Connect<\/span><\/p>\n

AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 <\/b>Dec. 5, 2017<\/b> \u2013 A new, national study commissioned by <\/span>WP Engine<\/span><\/a> and conducted by <\/span>The Center for Generational Kinetics<\/span><\/a> explores the mindset, preferences, and expectations of<\/span> \u00a0Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers for their current and future digital experiences. \u201cThe Future of Digital Experiences\u201d study, which surveyed over 1,200 people in the U.S. ages 14 – 59, found that for Generation Z – those born from 1996 to the present – the digital experience <\/span>is<\/span> their human experience. These digital natives expect to have constant access to the online world and want their digital experiences to be free, secure, authentic, transparent and personalized. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Digital Experience Is The Human Experience<\/b><\/p>\n

Unlike their predecessors, who use the internet mainly to source information, the research found that <\/span>86 percent<\/b> of Gen Zers rely on it primarily for social media and entertainment, demonstrating a marked shift from \u201cinform me\u201d to \u201centertain me.\u201d Where prior generations saw function or utility, Gen Z sees fun, connection and emotion. For them, there is no \u201conline\u201d or \u201cinternet.\u201d Gen Z doesn\u2019t distinguish whether they are online, on an app, in a social network\u2019s platform or walking around with their mobile phone. To this generation, the digital world is ubiquitous and blends seamlessly with the real world – they price shop in stores, hang out with their loved ones while waiting in line and watch their favorite videos together with thousands of friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

The expectation is not just that the web will play an increasingly larger role in their life, but that it is, and will continue to be, an absolutely integral part of their life. For example, <\/span>57 percent <\/b>of Gen Z believes that in five years the digital world will determine what they do on a daily basis, <\/span>60 percent<\/b> believes their online reputation will determine their dating options, and a surprising <\/span>71 percent<\/b> believes that online actions, including social media posts and past purchases, will affect future job offers. <\/span>52 percent <\/b>of Gen Z even said that they predict internet usage will be as accurate for understanding whether a person gets a loan as their credit score.<\/span><\/p>\n

The following are key findings from the study. Visit <\/span>https:\/\/wpengine.com\/gen-z-us\/<\/span><\/a> to learn more about the results and download a copy of the white paper and infographic. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n