What's New With Zoomers? 9/24/28

Hi folks. Sorry, I took a little hiatus from our weekly Zoomer roundups. September was a busy month at ScholarshipOwl! Let’s peek at what Gen Z’s been up to this week.  

Gen Z Not As Charitable As We Thought

Newman's Own Foods, known for donating all its profits to good causes, ran a social experiment to gauge people’s generosity. The experiment highlighted that, despite the evidence that younger folks are known for being more cause-focused, Gen Z is NOT as willing to support social causes as Boomers and Xers.

Newman’s set up pizza trucks in 22 locations across 10 states and asked consumers to choose the price they'd pay for a slice, with proceeds going to children's charities. Gen Z came in second to last paying about $2.61 for a slice voluntarily. Boomers topped out the list at $3.35, and not surprisingly Gen A, who probably haven't entered the job market yet, came in last at $2.06.

Source: Newman’s Own

TSA Tray Aesthetic: A New Gen Z Travel Trend

Gen Z has a new way to show off their gear while traveling: the "TSA tray aesthetic." The trend involves arranging their belongings in airport security trays as if they were merchandising a store window, and snapping pics. OK, I’m going to be honest here. If I’m late for a flight and you are making a diorama of your stuff to post on Instagram, we shall have words. Oh yes, there will be words. And they won’t be “please” or “excuse me.” Move it along folks! #getoffmylawnyoupeskykids!

Source: Business Insider

Gen Z Takes Over TikTok Marketing

A trend in TikTok marketing has emerged where brands use Gen Z slang, memes, and humor in their marketing efforts. While these gimmicks might seem fun, they also raise questions about their authenticity. Example: If we were all in a focus group about a new musical artist and you heard me say, “That track slaps! No cap!” you might want to ask if I was having a stroke. As Gen Z continues to shape culture, their slang and style are becoming increasingly influential but is this just pandering? We wonder if this hits the same way as when young hippies and mods rolled their eyes at brands using terms like “groovy” or “far out” in the 60s.

Source: WIRED

Gen Z's Changing Career Paths

While Gen Z initially embraced blue-collar work, a recent report suggests that they are reconsidering their employment choices. What we are surprised at is that people are surprised. Outdoor blue-collar work like construction is getting harder every year with colder winters, more rain, and hotter summers due to climate change. Indoor blue-collar work, like janitorial duties, have been decimated by union busting, low wages, and lack of career futures. If you factor in that Gen Z has been stuck learning and working at home for the last four years, it all makes sense. 

Source: Newsweek

So that's the week in Zoomer rumors - tune in next week for more news about Gen Z trends and marketing.

Want to know what student Zoomers think of your brands? Inbox ScholarshipOwl. We’d be happy to chat. In the meantime, stay “Gucci.”