Are the kids alright? The milestones and institutions that define the line between adolescence and adulthood are shifting, and teen perspectives on everything from identity and relationships to employment and education in a state of flux. No cap, as the kids say.
What the Future: Teen isn’t another Gen Z report. It’s about what it means to be young in today’s world and what that might look like tomorrow. It’s also not, therefore, an issue about the future of a thing or a topic. But rather a group of humans. So, we’ll talk about where teens are today, what this cohort might look like tomorrow and what “being a teen” might look like in the future, too.
Join us for a broad look at how shifts in the economy, technology, and society at-large are restructuring teen habits, beliefs, and mental health, what that could mean for the years to come, and why institutions, media and brands across industries should be paying close attention. What the Future Editor Matt Carmichael will guide you through exclusive U.S. data from our Future of Teens study, which will also include highlights from our interviews with:
- Robin Watson, head of YouTube Creative, Global Product Solutions
- Shivani Gorle, senior manager, Audience Impact & Intelligence, Paramount Advertising
- Barb Solish, national director in the Office of Innovation at NAMI
- Kaley Mullin, Youth & Trends Insights Lead, YouTube
- Justin Massa, senior vice president of Enterprise Services at Newlab
- Eva Lighthiser, plaintiff, Held v. State of Montana
Register today. Registering will also ensure you receive a direct link to the recording once published, and notification of future events or Ipsos thought leadership on this topic.
Shopping is increasingly seen as a race toward convenience: endless digital choices, frictionless checkouts and faster shipping. But our Future of Shopping survey shows a more nuanced picture, with consumers’ behaviors being shaped by economic pressure, changing attitudes about value and the growing involvement of AI. As technology transforms how people discover, evaluate and buy products, shopping remains deeply human, tied to identity, trust, entertainment and social connection. But will that continue?
Our findings reveal an American consumer who embraces digital and physical shopping nearly equally, wants help from technology but not its complete control, and scrutinizes what makes something worth buying. This data offers marketers, retailers, brands and business leaders insight into how shopping behaviors may evolve in the years ahead:
- 80% enjoy shopping online, as much as those who enjoy shopping in stores (78%)
- 50% of Gen Z say shopping stresses them out, yet 37% are excited for AI assistants to help shop for them
- Younger Americans are nearly twice as likely as older Americans to be regular mall-goers, underscoring the continued importance of in-person experiences
- Beauty products and technology saw the largest shift toward being perceived as luxury purchases over the past year (+14 points)
- 83% say expensive clothing is not necessarily better quality than less expensive clothing
- 41% say they would never link their payment information to an AI shopping agent
About What the Future
What the Future is Ipsos' thought leadership platform exploring the forces shaping society, business and culture. Through original research and expert perspectives, this editorial series helps leaders understand how changing attitudes and behaviors are redefining the future.
For more detailed findings or to explore our perspectives on future trends, please contact Matt Carmichael at [email protected].
See our What the Future archive for more forward-looking insights across a wide range of topics.
