The change in social media usage behaviour during the pandemic is on everyone’s lips. But it’s not just the pandemic that is causing a change, Gen-Z is fundamentally showing a different behaviour.
In this text, we want to explore how this generation behaves on social media and what role crypto and blockchain might play.
GWI.’s new study
A new study by the GWI. shows that “gen-Z is trying to adopt healthier social media habits, not just by changing how long they spend on platforms, but also how they use them. In America, this group stands out for saying social platforms are good for society and help them feel connected to others”.
That social media has an impact on the mental health of its users is not a new finding. Especially the generation that grows up with them suffers from extreme pressure that falls on them unfiltered through social media.
In order to create a platform that empowers its users to develop freely, we need to understand why gen-zers use social networks.
For this we again draw the current GWI. study, which examined the motivations of users.
For Mylivn, gen-z is particularly interesting, as that is our main target group — the dark pink group on the chart.
Staying in touch with family and friends is by far the biggest motivation, but also finding new communities that share one’s interests, following livestreams, finding inspiration or following celebrities and influencers are reasons for this generation to spend several hours a day on social networks. DWI. Writes: “averaging around three hours of social media usage a day, 16–24s see these networks as an essential part of everyday life. Rather than turning their backs on them, they’re rewriting the narrative”.
Changing the narrative
This means that this generation has new demands on social media — they want to see real life reflected rather than polished feeds, 39% of respondents don’t care if they impress others in their presentation on social media. Conscious consumption of media is clearly in focus, with 37% of gen-zers worried about using social media too much.
So, it is time for the social networks to adapt to these needs — to respond to users and creators.
“It is really the creators and developers who are going to build the metaverse and make this real.” — Mark Zuckerberg
We firmly believe that this is not only the case in the metaverse — but creators are also the heart of social media, the driving force behind everything. Without them, the networks would just be empty spaces.
Social Media and Blockchain
In this light, the rise of cryptography among this generation and the next makes more sense. There are many people interested in crypto investing, and they are finding new ways to earn returns. Several social media platforms have already started experimenting with crypto use cases, conducting pilots and analysing the results, to implement them into their ecosystems. Though relatively new, other platforms have gained a lot of traction in recent years due to the benefits they offer creators through their cryptocurrency infrastructure.
As we always state: blockchain technology allows revenue streams to expand even further, and influencers to connect with their audiences in a way never before possible.
As a result, gen-zers approach social media, cryptocurrency, and revenue generation in new ways. Using tools that minimize administration and maximize creativity, people can earn money doing what they love, combining crypto and social.
The study by GWI. concludes: Ultimately, new features on crypto-driven platforms will give influencers more creative freedom and encourage them to interact with their fans more closely — and we couldn’t agree more.
Head over to our other medium articles to learn more about how we support the Creator Economy along with a unique monetization model based on crypto.