Want to understand Gen Z better? We recently sat down with a few Gen Z students at The Knowledge Society and asked them to reflect on the last year as well as look to the year ahead. A deeply pensive...
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Want to understand Gen Z better? We recently sat down with a few Gen Z students at The Knowledge Society and asked them to reflect on the last year as well as look to the year ahead. A deeply pensive...
In the last year, we’ve partnered with many brands to inspire our community to do what it does best - create stories. Through branded writing contests, Wattpad writers of all levels are encouraged to...
The way humans socialize has undergone an immense shift since the pandemic started. One demographic struck especially hard by the societal effects of COVID-19 is the LGBTQIAP+ community.
We recently asked Gen Zers how virtual communities have enabled them to learn new skills and connect in new ways during the pandemic, how digital overload impacts their mental wellness, as well as...
If in a few decades we’re asked to describe 2020 in one word, most of us would probably say ‘COVID-19’. But behind the commanding presence of the pandemic is a more hopeful theme. Last year, we saw...
We spoke to some of the brightest Gen Z minds on the planet to learn what societal problems they're trying to solve. These students at The Knowledge Society (who are also active Wattpadders) also...
Today we released Wattpad's 2020 Year in Review, highlighting the year’s most interesting, innovative, and notable storytelling movements on the platform. This year on Wattpad, readers and writers...
We stepped into a day in the life of 16 Gen Zs for a week when they shared journal entries (in written and video formats) with us, in order to gain a deeper understanding of how marketers can insert...
We wanted to know what Gen Z predicts will be the biggest changes to the future of education and careers, and learn how they've followed their curiosity to be self-directed learners. For the first...
You can learn a lot about Gen Z by spending a day in their shoes. That’s what we set out to do when we asked 16 Gen Zs to share journal entries with us for a full week. The result is our latest...
As a Gen-Z first platform with over 85% of our community identifying as female, Wattpad is, in many ways, on the virtual front lines of female self-expression. And as the most socially progressive...
We wanted to know if Gen Z has used their time during COVID-19 to go after a dream or try something they've always wanted to try, what their dream job is, and who inspires them to follow their...
For Gen Z there’s no more crucial a fight than climate change. It consistently tops their list of greatest concerns and according to an Amnesty International survey of under-25s, over 40 percent said...
We wanted to discover what a typical day in the life of Gen Z looks like, so we invited 16 of them to share their days with us for a full week in the form of journal entries. As discovered, Gen Z’s...
Is it possible to find joy and inspiration during a global pandemic? For Gen Z, the answer is a resounding yes! Amidst the uncertainty of 2020 they have remained hopeful and have sought out ways to...
While the term ‘tomboy’ has been used for centuries, it has evolved in many forms, championing its way through entertainment and fashion.
In recent months, the Black Lives Matter movement has gained serious momentum. The tragic murder of George Floyd reignited the pivotal civil rights movement we’ve been witnessing since. Gen Z has...
If there exists a list ranking how deeply a crisis inspires people to reexamine their lives, a global pandemic has got to be in the top 5. The effects of COVID-19 and the restrictions it has placed...
We tapped into our Gen Z community to ask them the questions we know are on the minds of marketers. Watch Part One of The Gen Z Show video series to learn how they are responding to the Black Lives...
Please note that the research referenced in this article was completed in April, prior to the very important conversations round racial inequality coming (again) to the forefront of our society. The...
As soon as the national emergency was declared in the U.S., we tapped into Wattpad’s Gen Z youth panel, Generation Wattpad, to find out how COVID-19 was impacting their lives. We learned their number...
When the clock struck midnight on January 1st 2020, the idea that anyone's resolutions for the year ahead should anchor around finding balance during a pandemic would have seemed ludicrous. Yet, mere...
Each generation is shaped by the events that take place during their formative years, and COVID-19 will be one of the moments that defines Gen Z. During these uncertain times, it’s often hard to...
What do parents of teenagers and marketers reaching Gen Z have in common? A desire to understand and speak to them in their language. Recently, one Gen Z teenager created a handmade “meme-guide” to...
For generations, brands have relied on their target demographic to keep coming back for more. Relationships between brands and their customers have historically been strong, which means that Gen Z...
Millennials came of age in an era of unhealthy beauty standards. When I was young, I idolized the models who graced the glossy pages of the top teen magazines. The quizzes, romance advice, and...
Recent headlines on stolen data hasn't stopped Gen Z from being willing to share it, as long as they learn more about themselves. But at what cost?
Gen Z is a nostalgic generation. In fact, 81% of the U.S. members of our youth panel, Generation Wattpad, reported that they feel nostalgic about the past or “old school” things from previous...
For generations, brands have relied on their target demographic to keep coming back for more. Relationships between brands and their customers have historically been strong, which means that Gen Z...
The start of a new year offers a great time to look back at the most interesting storytelling movements from 2019. Want to find out the most popular story trends that resonated with Gen Z on Wattpad...
Have you ever felt nostalgic for an era that you didn’t live through? When it comes to style and design, what goes around comes back around. There’s no denying the marketing power of nostalgia; just...
We recently released Wattpad's 2019 Year in Review, a snapshot of the most interesting storytelling movements on the platform this year. Driven by a community of more than 80 million people around...
Gen Z expects brands to reflect the reality of their lives in advertising, and it makes good business sense to do so. Research on inclusivity in ads revealed that 64% of people took some sort of...
Gen Z is turning to stories as an outlet to destigmatize mental health and discuss self-care. Watch our latest episode of The Preview to learn why these issues are a big deal to this generation.
Instagram is currently hiding the likes on video and image posts in select countries including Canada as a way to “reduce pressure” and help users “focus on the photos and videos [they] share, not...
When it comes to forging connections with Gen Z, empathy goes a long way. As a generation that often comes under fire, Gen Z not only wants to be heard by previous generations, they also want to be...
Our Gen Z Census report reveals that Gen Z is a diverse yet widely misunderstood group, with 47% of Gen Z in the U.S. and 52% in Canada saying they don't feel well-represented in marketing. For a...
In the age of digital, marketing entertainment to Gen Z has changed dramatically. Jordan Press, Head of Entertainment Partnerships at Wattpad, sat down to talk entertainment marketing with eOne...
In marketing, brands live and die by data. And in a world where there’s a metric for just about everything, one group refuses to fit into a single checkbox. Gen Z— the cohort of Canadians aged 10-24...
In marketing, brands live and die by data. And in a world where there’s a metric for just about everything, one group refuses to fit into a single checkbox. Gen Z—the cohort of Americans aged 10-24...
A quarter of our Gen Z youth panel told us they want to be self-employed freelancers. The future of work may be disrupted big time as Gen Z are likely to juggle multiple careers that include side...
Why Gen Z isn't clicking on your Ad: Advertising messages targeting Gen Z must be useful, honest, and well-placed.
Gen Z can’t remember a time before influencers. Watch this episode of The Preview to learn which influencers are currently top of mind and how influencer culture has shaped their view for their...
How to avoid passive-aggressive punctuation and other lessons from an internet linguist.
Thanks to social media, Gen Z has garnered a reputation for vanity that may not be accurate. Although it’s not always obvious, not every member of Gen Z finds themselves tethered to social media. In...
In order to inspire the plastic crisis, National Geographic joined forces with Wattpad to launch the “Planet or Plastic?” writing contest, inviting the community to write stories that would...
While Gen Z is passionate about many social causes, they are particularly concerned about global warming and are turning to stories to voice their activism. For example, we found that reading time on...
UGC campaigns open your company up to more authentic, relatable content.
Gen Z is one of the first generations to collectively challenge sexuality and gender labels and are more fluid in their identities. They are turning to stories on Wattpad to explore themes of...
Brand Storytelling sat down with Chris Stefanyk to discuss how National Geographic's Planet or Plastic initiative on Wattpad became an award-winning campaign that engaged Gen Z.
For generations, brands have relied on their target demographic to keep coming back for more. Relationships between brands and their customers have historically been strong, which means that Gen Z...
We discovered that 43% of Gen Z are purposely choosing to spend a couple of hours away from social media each day and are embracing JOMO, the Joy of Missing Out. This means they may not see–or...
Our core makeup is Gen Z females, accounting for 76% of our engaged user base. Check out the latest episode of The Preview, where we take a deeper look at themes of female empowerment, including...
As climate change and political upheaval continue to make headlines and threaten Gen Z's future, social impact becomes increasingly important to this generation. And when they take up social causes,...
Gen Z was born multitasking. To the untrained eye this constant task-switching may look unfocused. But there’s more going on than we give Gen Z credit for—and their book-buying habits tell the story.
Check out the latest episode of The Preview, where we bring you the latest Gen Z insights in 2 minutes or less.
Anna Todd's Wattpad sensation with over a billion reads is now one of the most-talked about movies of 2019!
Welcome to our first episode of The Preview, where we bring you the latest Gen Z insights in 2 minutes or less!
People are more isolated than ever—and it’s not because of their phones.
Feb 20, 2019
The Planet or Plastic? campaign leaned into the power of storytelling and enabled youth to use their voices to help inspire change.
How Gen Z beauty fans voted with their dollars—and won.
There are brands that teach us it’s never too late for a comeback, and that Gen Z loves a good one.
Jan 28, 2019
More than any generation in history, Gen Z is connected, creative, and driven to share their views with the world. This generation is also passionate about important social and environmental issues,...
Why a planned influencer stunt went wrong, and how you can avoid the same misstep.
How a discount brand food store found cultural relevance.
While contests have been around forever, brands can modernize them by incorporating elements of content creation.
Dec 13, 2018
From #MuslimRomance to mental health awareness, Wattpad stories are breaking new ground in creating a safe space online for marginalized voices.
The glass might be half full, but they still want to fill it.
Wattpad is home to a community of 90 million mostly Gen Z and Millennials. In order to better understand the most influential generation, we enlisted a voluntary panel of 1,600 of the most engaged...
Nov 26, 2018
Ben & Jerry's Canada engaged the LGBTQ+ community on Wattpad during Pride month through a philanthropic write-a-thon, with the goal of driving positive brand sentiment and increasing likelihood to...
Wattpad writer and influencer Tahlie Purvis shares how she started the Free Your Body movement on Wattpad, a campaign to help promote the acceptance of all body types and skin types, conditions,...
Want to reach Gen Z? Marketers are turning their attention towards the generation of consumers born in the mid-1990s, and they can reach this uber-influential group by learning what they care about...
How to win the hearts of Gen Z before your product is in their hands.
In September 2018, the public spotlight shone on Colin Kaepernick once again when Nike made him the face of their 30th anniversary campaign, reigniting the same controversy from two years earlier —...
A chance for brands to reach consumers through engaging content marketing.
A secret path to the heart and minds of your audience. Stories. They have a way of sticking with us.
Behind the powder — fans, drama, and millions of dollars.
Brand Storytelling sat down with Chris Stefanyk, Head of Brand Partnerships at Wattpad, to discuss the ways in which Wattpad is using its unique positioning to partner with brands.
How photo opportunities are a great way to spread your brand through word of mouth marketing.
As there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to working with influencers, every brand has to carefully decide how they want to approach influencer marketing.
The most powerful acts of corporate activism start within a brand, lasts for the long-term, and remains positive in spite of turmoil.
You can build a much more meaningful relationship with the LGBTQ+ community by finding real members of the community and understanding them. What can brands do, now that Pride month is over? As you...
With unemployment at an all-time low, Gen Z has chosen to make money independently. Here’s why and how.
An exploration into discrimination that affects 19% of the population, and why it matters to marketers.
Mainstream media fails to represent a lot of people, leaving an opportunity for savvy marketers and brands.
Gen Z doesn’t read like they used to, but they work with words every day.
Marketing Innovator Chris Denson came to Wattpad HQ to share insights from his latest book, Crushing the Box: 10 Essential Rules For Breaking Essential Rules.
Gen Z switches content very often. Most people think this is because they have a dwindling attention span. In reality, they just have a ton of really great alternatives.
Chris Denson speaks at Wattpad HQ on how brands can use innovation in their day-to-day thinking. Innovation in today's age can literally be interpreted in so many different ways, so how can we as...
We sat down with local Torontonian, Sarah Hagi, who weighed in on diversity in storytelling. Take a look at what she had to say.
This month we doubled-down on all things beauty on Wattpad. Whether it's shopping for beauty or searching for beauty inspiration, there are some strong beauty enthusiasts on Wattpad. Here's a...
How do time, attention and engagement apply to your brand? Marketers can now choose from various ways to engage audiences for longer periods of time.
Want the A-Z on Gen Z? Here are five things you need to know in order to effectively reach this important new demographic.
A week of tech, film, music, exhibitions and networking comes to an end. Here's the TL;DR recap from SXSW 2018! After a week of endless BBQ, tech panels, exhibitions and MORE, you’re probably...
While not all Millennials are the same, it’s helpful for marketers to understand what they have in common as brands continue to search for ways to reach them.
Our community often mirrors what is happening in the world. Here are four things you didn't know about WOMEN empowerment on Wattpad:
This month, we're kicking off with giving you the latest and greatest on all things CES. For those who couldn't attend the 51st Consumer Electronics Show (CES), our Brand Partnerships team has got...
