In recent months, studies have shown that Gen Z men and women are becoming increasingly politically divided. But now a new report has found that we also consume media in different ways too.
The study, which was carried out by business intelligence company Morning Consult, found that young women are more likely to use image- and video-based apps like Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest, while Gen Z men were more likely to use text-based apps like X and Reddit.
According to Ellyn Briggs, a brand analyst at Morning Consult, Reddit “has always been a very male space,” but X has “taken on a very masculine brand, look, and feel” since Musk bought the platform in October 2022. By contrast, formats such as ‘get ready with me’ or ‘day in the life’ “perform extremely well for women audiences” on TikTok.
The researchers found that young women were “compelled by community” when it came to how they engaged with social media, and showed they were “more likely to identify with communal ideals like close friendship, gift-giving and putting others’ needs before their own.”
The report also found that young men and women have different streaming habits too, with Gen Z women generally using streaming services more than their male counterparts. While young women are more likely to use Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, men prefer watching TV shows and other content on Apple TV+ and Twitch.tv.
Researchers also noted that Gen Z men were more interested in gaming, with 77 per cent playing console games at least once a week.