Digital Digest #106
The New Age of Gen Z
GWI (Global Web Index) has released its Connecting the Dots report filled with new findings on Gen Z including how they consume media, lifestyle choices, and attitudes.
Generation Z or Gen Z is made up of people born between the years of the late 1990s and early 2010s. This generation’s identity has been shaped by the digital age, climate anxiety, a shifting financial landscape, and COVID-19.
Although most people associate Gen Z with students holed up during exam season, some members of the generation are now in their mid-twenties and have been employed full-time for some time. 47% of Gen Z full-time employees say they are career-focused.
Gen Z finds it much simpler to explain the advantages of using AI in the workplace. Since AI is used in creative projects, they are more likely to be interested in the technology in general and to agree that it should be permitted to function without raising any legal issues.
In fact, based on the GWI data, working Gen Z appears to already incorporate it into their daily routine. More than half of them say they use it monthly, reporting that Gen Z finds it useful for finding information (55%), improving their skills (49%), and analysing text/data (44%). Although every workplace will have its own set of guidelines when it comes to AI use, Gen Z's excitement for the technology offers a chance to stay up with the ever-evolving workplace environment.
39% of Gen Z users say they present themselves as a different persona online. They believe a digital profile is becoming more and more valuable, and Gen Z wants to be taken seriously. Using Linked In as their social media platform of choice to convey this professional persona to the world. With +12% admitting having commended, liked or reacted to LinkedIn Content.
The shift from a student to a working adult is the cause of these evolving digital habits. Acquiring a first job is not just about showing up for work on the first day; it influences Gen Z's reading habits, purchasing habits, and interests. Brands in a variety of industries need to be aware of this shift since many could profit from capitalising on this shift in consumer behaviour.
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Google Illegal Monopoly on Search
A federal judge has officially ruled that Google violated the U.S. antitrust law by using its dominant position in the search market to smother any competition. The decision came after the U.S. government accused Google of making exclusive deals with companies like Apple to block out rivals such as Microsoft’s Bing and DuckDuckGo. These deals, according to the court, allowed Google to maintain its monopoly and charge higher and unfair prices for search ads.
Google plans to appeal the decision, arguing that its dominance is due to consumer preference for its superior search engine. However, the ruling could lead to significant changes, such as requiring Google to give users a choice of other search engines or potentially facing a monetary fine. More drastic measures, like breaking up Google, are also a possibility.
This case could have broader implications, especially as concerns grow about Google’s power in artificial intelligence. If the ruling limits Google’s ability to secure default search agreements, it might weaken the company just as AI-powered search alternatives like OpenAI's ChatGPT are gaining traction. This decision may also impact other major antitrust cases against tech giants like Apple and Amazon.
Sources:
CNN, 2024
Elon Musk's X Sues Major Advertisers Over Alleged Illegal Boycott
Elon Musk's social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, has launched a significant lawsuit against a coalition of major advertisers and advertising organizations. The lawsuit, filed in Texas, targets the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), the World Federation of Advertisers, and specific companies like CVS Health, Mars, Ørsted, and Unilever. Musk and X's CEO, Linda Yaccarino, allege that these groups conspired to orchestrate an advertising boycott against the platform.
The conflict stems from concerns over content moderation on X, which has become a controversial topic since Musk acquired the platform in 2022. Under Musk’s leadership, X has been criticized for allowing an increase in hate speech, misinformation, and other harmful content, which led many advertisers to reconsider their association with the platform. According to the lawsuit, GARM persuaded these major brands to collectively withhold billions of dollars in advertising revenue from X as protest against the platform's moderation policies.
The lawsuit claims that this boycott not only financially harmed X but also violated antitrust laws by restricting the free flow of ideas in what Musk and Yaccarino refer to as the "Global Town Square." They argue that such actions undermine the marketplace of ideas, depriving users of diverse viewpoints. Musk has been vocal about the lawsuit on X, encouraging other companies that have faced similar boycotts to take legal action as well.
Despite legal experts stating that the case is unlikely to succeed due to the evidence being hard to prove, the case does highlight the broader tensions between social media platforms and advertisers over content control, free speech, and corporate responsibility. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for how advertising and content moderation intersect in the digital age, potentially reshaping the relationship between advertisers and social media companies.
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