Written by Benjamin Oi, Clio Goh and Marie Ng.

Has COVID-19 transformed Gen Zers? Facebook shares new insights in their latest IQ report.

With 41% of the world population under the age of 25 this year, Gen-Z is playing an increasingly important role in shaping our future. This year, not only did Gen-Z have to adapt to wide-reaching disruptions brought about by the pandemic, but they had to do so during their formative years. 

To find out how this has impacted their attitudes and values, Facebook polled more than 15,000 respondents globally, publishing their findings in the “Meet the Future: Gen Z’s Regeneration” report. 

Here are some of the key insights Facebook uncovered:

  1. Gen-Zers are driven to be constantly learning and translating what they’ve learnt into meaningful action. 
  2. Gen-Zers share a powerful belief that they can change the world through activism, and expect companies to join them. 
  3. Their community is increasingly digital and dispersed
  4. Shopping is an expression of values, and they prize efficiency and convenience
  5. Physical and mental wellness are important to Gen-Z, and they are more likely to upkeep behaviours that spiked due to the pandemic 

Facebook says marketers can apply these learnings in a number of ways, including supporting Gen-Zers in creating meaningful connections, championing causes and connecting with Gen-Zers authentically, or partnering with organisations Gen-Zers respect, or partnering with Gen-Zers themselves.  

Instagram Reels launches updates with longer clips

Instagram Reels, the infamous TikTok competitor, is rolling out a few updates in an effort to catch up with TikTok’s popular features.

Instagram says that it’s responding to user feedback and concerns about Reels’ limited editing tools and that it doesn’t allow them to add as many special effects compared to TikTok.

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First off, Reels is now adding the ability to create a video up to 30 seconds long. It has thus far been restricted to 15-second videos, in line with TikTok’s main feature, although TikTok videos can actually go up to a minute. This 30-second duration, although shorter than TikTok’s, would provide Reels’ users with more leeway for their creations.

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Additionally, Reels is also attempting to make its native editing tool simpler by allowing users to extend the timer by 10 seconds as they record their clips. It will also feature improved trimming and deletion options.

Whether Reels can become the next big thing or even the next TikTok is hard to say. It is, however, a positive sign that they are trying to learn and align with their user behaviors on the app. 

LinkedIn launches new feature LinkedIn Stories and revamped interface

Hopping on the bandwagon, LinkedIn has launched LinkedIn Stories, which lets users post photos and videos that will disappear after 24 hours. It has been launched in countries like Brazil, Australia and France, but will be made available globally in the coming weeks. LinkedIn Stories also asks members about their day, so they can respond to the prompt as they create their own content.

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In addition, LinkedIn has also made tweaks to their existing interface for better navigation and catering to user preferences. Additional features have also been added to facilitate messaging and communicating between users, such as adding BlueJeans, Zoom and Microsoft video chat links into the messaging function.

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As social networking continues to become part of the larger social norm beyond merely personal sharing, businesses can make use of these platforms to communicate more effectively even from home working spaces.

Disclaimer: Featured image taken from Facebook.