Why 54% of Gen Zers Now Favor Shopping Routines That Avoid Other People

Photo: Jeffrey Paa Kwesi/Pexels

It was a Friday night and I was sixteen years old. And like so many other times on the eve of a highly anticipatory event during my adolescence, I couldn’t wait to fall asleep. So that by the time I woke up, it would be closer to showtime on the big day. 

With a new outfit purchased specifically for the event already ironed the day before and hanging neatly in my bedroom closet, the excitement was so palpable; it seemed as if it had taken me forever to finally fall asleep. 

Now, if you’re probably thinking that my big day consisted of graduating high school, or taking off for college, or even going on my very first date—you’d be wrong. 

As I awakened that Saturday morning, both eager and jovial, the first thing on my mind was to call my buddies and remind them to be ready and on time for the afternoon’s big event. 

After getting my drivers license the week before, finally, my parents were allowing me to drive my mom’s car to the mall with my friends—without adult supervision for the first time! 

Remarkably, what was once such an epic event for millions of teens and young adults in America, now appears to be an exasperating experience for over half of Gen Zers. 

And the survey says…

Regardless of whether it was driving your own car, a parent’s car, or perhaps a car belonging to a relative; your very first time driving to the mall as a teen or young adult with your friends without any adult supervision is something that’ll likely always hold a special place in your heart. 

But let’s be honest, the thing that truly made taking trips to the mall back then such an exhilarating experience wasn’t necessarily the new clothes or products that you planned on purchasing; it was that the mall was the perfect place to see—and be seen by others in your age group outside of school.

For generations, mall shopping, or rather, mallratting—was more of a social event for teens and young adults—than it ever was a trip to simply shop for actual products you wanted. 

Yet according to a 2025 survey by GoDaddy, 54% of Gen Z consumers now prefer shopping methods that allow them to avoid other people. Which is a stark contrast from the shopping preferences of generations that preceded them. 

What caused the avoidance? 

For all the positives the internet has afforded us to make our day-to-day lives much more convenient, we’d be remiss if we didn’t also acknowledge that the internet and social media in particular, has also contributed towards making people more anti-social. 

Social anxiety due to a decrease in in-person peer-to-peer social interactions, along with the aftereffects of the pandemic, has led to Gen Zers not only becoming more accepting of isolation and avoiding interaction with others—the majority of the demographic now prefer it; especially when shopping. 

How should your business address this issue?

As the saying goes, the customer is always right! Therefore, if nearly 55% of Gen Zers prefer shopping methods which allow them to avoid human interaction as much as possible, give the people what they want! 

A great way to do that is by providing shopping options that allow consumers to make their purchases online or with the least amount of human interaction as possible.

“Gen Z and Millennials want to shop online from their phones and be left alone, which makes providing an automated, personalized, yet hands-off experience for consumers all the more vital.” Says GoDaddy head of commerce growth, Alex Avramenko.

“Consumers have consistently shown their desire for simple, convenient ways to shop and pay will make or break a sale, and small businesses need to adopt this new vision of what doing business looks like.”

Key takeaways 

Convenience plays a key role in giving your business an edge over your competitors. With AI steadily advancing by the day, companies that emphasize ease of purchase for consumers most will have an enormous edge in the marketplace over those that do not. 

Especially as far as Gen Z consumers are concerned. 

If your startup needs help with its marketing towards Gen Z consumers, please do not hesitate to contact us today to schedule a client consultation; which by the way—is totally complimentary!