Digital Life
Teens and Social Media: How Gen Z Can Help Share Your Message
Published Date: July 17, 2024
Teens and social media are intertwined, but their online presence is quieter than you might think. While nearly all teens use social media, over a third rarely post. Understanding teens and social media use is crucial for effective outreach. This article explores social media use among teens, delving into why teens use social media and Gen Z social media trends.
When teens post, it's typically personal content: friends, family, pets, events, and achievements. However, they're more active in sharing content others post, especially if it's interesting, funny, or relevant. Shared content ranges from celebrity gossip to life hacks and humorous videos. Females are significantly more likely to share than males.
Social media use among teens evolves with age. Middle schoolers primarily post and share personal content, with some interest in life hacks. Older teens expand their social media use, posting about broader interests like music, fashion, travel, food, and style and sharing opinions around these topics.
For some, sharing builds community around shared interests. Others see it as a potential income source through affiliate marketing and monetization, aligning with the broader Gen Z social media trends of online entrepreneurship.
When teens post, it's typically personal content: friends, family, pets, events, and achievements. However, they're more active in sharing content others post, especially if it's interesting, funny, or relevant. Shared content ranges from celebrity gossip to life hacks and humorous videos. Females are significantly more likely to share than males.
Social media use among teens evolves with age. Middle schoolers primarily post and share personal content, with some interest in life hacks. Older teens expand their social media use, posting about broader interests like music, fashion, travel, food, and style and sharing opinions around these topics.
For some, sharing builds community around shared interests. Others see it as a potential income source through affiliate marketing and monetization, aligning with the broader Gen Z social media trends of online entrepreneurship.
Content sharing is key to viral reach. To leverage this, consider these strategies:
Target Females: They are more likely to share content. Engage Older Teens: They interact with and share broader, non-personal topics. Leverage Teen Interests: Focus on topics like friends, hobbies, music, and fashion. Find creative ways to connect your message to these interests. Encourage Interaction: Prioritize genuine conversations over simple "likes." Offer Monetization Opportunities: Allow teens to earn by sharing content. Employ Teen Interns: By assigning them content creation and sharing tasks you can engage them in a way that interests them and teaches them how social media can be used in a positive way or even as a potential career.
When targeting teens and social media, remember they're not children. While humor is effective, avoid condescending language or age-inappropriate activities. Respect their intelligence and interests to effectively engage them in sharing your organization's message.
When targeting teens and social media, remember they're not children. While humor is effective, avoid condescending language or age-inappropriate activities. Respect their intelligence and interests to effectively engage them in sharing your organization's message.