What does 5G mean to Gen Z and your network?

Generation Z (Gen Z) is defined by Pew Research as those “born 1997 onward.” Research shows that cell phones and wireless technology is important to Gen Z. The “always on” Gen Z don’t remember a time when wireless didn’t work. For Gen Z, smartphones are:

• The new credit card
• The new movie ticket
• Their gaming device
• Their television

They are Gen Z’s ID and identity. Networks and service providers need to understand how to best meet this growing demand in the United States and globally, especially with the much-touted 5G rollout.

CLICK TO TWEET: What does 5G mean to Gen Z and your network? CommScope's Melissa Strait explains in this blog.

A 2018 Pew Research study, “The promise of 5G”, analyzed how consumers feel about 5G. The promise of faster speeds and less buffering appealed to most, but interest peaked among 18-24-year-olds, with 71 percent finding it “very appealing.”

And it’s no wonder. Gen Zers in New York, London, Tokyo, Seoul, and Buenos Aires check their smartphone more than 20 times each waking hour, and 59 percent of all would find it extremely difficult to go a day without texting.

Music consumption is important to Gen Z. Most music genres are cemented as preferences around ages 13 and 14, but Gen Z switch back and forth between genres and listen to at least five musical genres on a regular basis. In a 2018 survey of Gen Z females, 94 percent of respondents cite music as “important” to their lives and nearly the same say it impacts their mood. YouTube is the favorite destination for discovering new music and for regular listening, Spotify, radio, and CDs rank high.

They are not just consuming, but they are creating content as well. Gen Z creates more unique online content, like YouTube videos, than any other generation. “Less buffering on videos,” is one thing youth point out for mobile providers to improve on. As the future points to 5G and new technology, like virtual reality and augmented reality, low latency broadband connections become important to customer value.

And connectivity is highly valued. “Younger consumers place more value overall on the internet and what it affords them,” states Pew Research, showing consumers under 40 (Millennials and Gen Z) are more likely to pay more for internet, even if they made far less money than their Gen X and Baby Boomer counterparts.

Gen Z differentiates itself from Millennials by being part of technology rather than being influenced by technology. Is it any wonder that their top aspiration is being a YouTube celebrity above traditional career paths of doctor and teacher? Wireless provides more than just a way to stay connected; Gen Z is and will continue to shape how older generations use technology and how fast 5G is adopted.

So, how important is 5G to you and your networks? We can help you stay connected with wireless technology and understanding network demands. That’s why we offer a variety of free eBook resources to provide a better understanding of the solutions that help your network run faster and more reliable. We hope this valuable information will help foster a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the technology, science and business behind modern communications.

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