What Percentage of Gen Z Uses YouTube?
Wondering what percentage of Gen Z uses YouTube? According to a study involving 1,500 people, in 2022, a staggering 96% of Gen Z reported using YouTube. By 2023, the number dipped slightly but was still high at 93%.
Daily Usage of YouTube by Gen Z
Even more impressively, many in this demographic are using the platform daily. This high level of engagement underscores the importance of YouTube for those trying to reach younger audiences.
YouTube as the Largest Search Engine
Interestingly, YouTube is now considered the largest search engine in the world, surpassing even Google. People are increasingly turning to YouTube to learn how to do things, whether it’s fixing a faucet, learning a new skill, or even diving into deeper topics. This shift speaks to the platform’s power in offering visual and practical content.
How Many Gen Z Are Using TikTok?
The next big platform is, of course, TikTok. The percentage of Gen Z using TikTok might surprise you—63% in 2023. While that’s a solid number, it’s interesting to note that TikTok is behind YouTube in terms of overall usage.
TikTok vs. YouTube: Time Spent
TikTok’s content tends to be shorter and more addictive, drawing people into endless scrolling. In contrast, YouTube offers a mix of both short-form and long-form content, which may help explain why more Gen Z users gravitate towards YouTube. They can consume quick bites or dive into lengthier, more engaging content.
The Role of Short-Form Content in Gen Z’s Preferences
A key question is whether YouTube’s dominance among Gen Z stems from its variety of content lengths. While TikTok specializes in short clips, YouTube offers everything from Shorts (its answer to TikTok) to hour-long videos. This range appeals to a generation that likes flexibility in how they consume content.
Political Influence on TikTok
An interesting observation from the 2020 election cycle was how teens were using TikTok to form political opinions. During that time, many youth group leaders noticed that teens were making serious political decisions based on TikTok videos. This trend showcases the platform’s influence and raises questions about how Gen Z is forming opinions based on social media content.
Is Facebook Still Relevant for Gen Z?
When it comes to Facebook, the numbers are drastically lower. Only 33% of Gen Z report using Facebook, and of those, only 3% use it constantly. Many young people may have Facebook accounts, but they’re not actively engaging on the platform.
Why Millennials Have a Unique Perspective on Social Media
As millennials, many of us remember a time before social media and smartphones. This experience has given us a unique perspective on how social media influences our lives. We didn’t grow up with constant screens, and that has informed how we view technology today, especially as parents. Unlike Gen Z, many of whom have had devices from a young age, millennials had a chance to develop without this constant digital presence.
The Blessing of Being Millennials in a Digital Age
In youth ministry, we’ve seen how growing up without devices has influenced how millennials raise their kids. Many millennial parents, even those from secular backgrounds, are increasingly opting to delay giving their children smartphones. There’s a growing awareness of the detrimental aspects of constant screen time.
The Effects of Technology on Youth Ministry
Youth ministry has also evolved as we’ve watched the impact of technology on socialization. Gen Z communicates differently than any generation before them, and this means we have to adapt the way we share the Gospel. But at the same time, we can’t lose sight of the fact that authentic relationships and real community are still what their hearts desire.
Introducing Youth to Silence and Solitude
We’ve found that when young people are introduced to practices like Adoration, they are often blown away. For many, it’s their first experience of true silence. This isn’t something they get in their daily lives, where they are always connected, entertained, and stimulated by their phones. The ability to sit in silence and pray often leaves a deep impact on them. They can sense that this experience is different from anything else they’ve encountered.
Gen Z Craves What the World Can’t Offer
One of the biggest opportunities for the Church to reach Gen Z is to offer them what the world cannot—true, authentic relationship with God. Competing with the world in worldly things isn’t a winning strategy. Instead, we can draw people in through platforms like YouTube, not to entertain, but to lead them to a deeper encounter with the Lord.
The Need for Authenticity in Reaching Gen Z
It’s important to remember that while platforms like YouTube and TikTok are great tools, the goal is to bring Gen Z into real relationship with God. They won’t find that fulfillment on social media, but they can be drawn in through it. Authentic relationships, real community, and time in prayer offer something the world can’t.
The Power of Solitude in Today’s World
In our own spiritual lives, we’ve been reminded of the power of solitude. In a world that is always trying to reach us, taking time to be silent, to disconnect, and to be alone with God is more important than ever. We often use distractions to quiet the thoughts rushing at us, but God invites us into the stillness where we can hear the truth.
The Importance of Real Connection
This is the kind of connection God wants with us—not just knowledge about our lives but true intimacy. It’s the difference between scrolling through someone’s Instagram feed and sitting down with them for a heartfelt conversation. The depth of real relationship comes from time spent together, not just observing from a distance.
A Unique Opportunity to Reach Gen Z
To anyone trying to understand or reach Gen Z, offering them what the world cannot is the key. Platforms like YouTube can be used as tools to draw them into deeper prayer and relationship with God. The Church has a tremendous opportunity to meet this generation’s deepest desires by offering authentic encounters and showing them the richness of silence and prayer—things they cannot get from their screens.
What Gen Z Wants And How To Connect With Them
