Instagram released its Gen Z trends predictions for 2024. This past year, this generation drove some of the most popular online trends — from the advent of Barbiecore to viral trends such as “girl dinner.” The Meta-owned social media platform partnered with WGSN to look at what is expected to trend in the upcoming year.
The survey found that Gen Zers will most likely focus on lifestyle and personal development. Staying healthy was the top priority, including habits such as working out regularly and eating healthy. They also predicted the importance of exploring a career path and traveling.
This echoes Gen Z being a generation of self-starters, as 1 in 3 said the best way to achieve wealth is through self-employment. It’s also reminiscent of prior studies conducted on Gen Z being a generation to redefine traditional workplace views.
According to a study conducted by Intuit, adults aged between 18 and 25 were found to prioritize experiences that promote personal growth and emotional well-being.
In 2024, Gen Z will be focusing on different “eras,” including their self-improvement or development era, their “lucky” era and ushering in an “unapologetically myself.”
Instagram also found that this generation wants to use social media to keep up with friends and family — which echoes the platform’s recent expansion of its Close Friends feature. Over half of the respondents said they are currently single, while their top pick is someone “chewing with their mouth open.”
Core aesthetics and regards to sustainable fashion aren’t going anywhere in 2024. Nearly ⅓ of Gen Z wants to be more creative in how they dress and find their aesthetic. They are also most likely to buy fewer clothes, repeat outfits and shop locally.
