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Gen Z Social Media Usage 2025

Social Media’s Most Engaged Generation Also Wants a Life Outside of It

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About This Report
Social media is intertwined into Gen Zers’ day-to-day lives, used for everything from entertainment to messaging to searching. But they’re posting less than older generations and want to spend less time on it, though that’s easier said than done.
Table of Contents

Social media has become a fixture in Gen Zers’ lives. It’s a place to be entertained, search, catch up on news, and more. Despite Gen Z’s reliance on social, they’re increasingly tired of the amount of time they spend on it and try to limit usage.

Key Question: How can marketers best reach, engage, and resonate with Gen Z on social media?

Key Stat: Only 17% of Gen Zers have never tried to limit their social media usage, per The Harris Poll, a sign that this generation is hyperaware of their screentime and the negative effects of social media despite being avid users.

Here’s what’s in the full report

1file

Exportable files for easy reading, analysis and sharing.

8charts

Reliable data in simple displays for presentations and quick decision making.

3expert perspectives

Insights from industry and company leaders.

    Table of Contents

    1. Executive Summary
    2. Social media is a must-have for Gen Z, but they crave time offline
    3. TikTok and Instagram ramp up the battle for Gen Z’s attention as YouTube becomes a bigger threat
    4. Gen Z is playing a large role in legitimizing and broadening the creator economy
    1. Social media is woven into Gen Z’s shopping habits, but it’s only one part of the equation
    2. While most Gen Zers use genAI, it’s not having a major impact on their social habits
    3. Recommendations for marketers
    4. EMARKETER Interviews
    1. Sources
    2. Media Gallery

    Interviewed for This Report

    Rachael Brill
    Wpromote
    Senior Director, Media Strategy
    Interviewed September 2, 2025
    Brian Pham
    Influencer
    Vice President, Strategy and Creative, North America
    Interviewed August 27, 2025
    Andrew Roth
    dcdx
    Founder and CEO
    Interviewed August 28, 2025

    authors

    Minda Smiley

    Contributors

    Rahul Chadha
    Director, Report Editing
    Jasmine Enberg
    Vice President and Principal Analyst
    Donte Gibson
    Senior Charts Editor
    Kyndall Krist
    Senior Copy Editor
    Tracy Tang
    Senior Researcher
    Matt Torpey
    Senior Chart Editor
    Emman Velasco
    Chart Editor
    Paul Verna
    VP, Content
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