Gen Z doesn’t want brands to become completely agnostic.

[shaownhasan]

As the influencer economy continues to grow, Gen Z will certainly continue to expect (and favor) brands that partner with influencers in unique ways. For brands to make their investments count, they need to find influencers with credibility in niche communities who are genuine fans of their brand.

Disheartened by most brand-led activism
The surge of brands putting out “activist” content in the el salvador business email list last five years largely backfired—especially with discerning Zoomers. Many brands were accused of getting it wrong, overwhelming their audiences or performing to bolster the bottom line.

Sprout’s 2019 #BrandsGetReal Report found that 70% of consumers then believed it was important for brands to have a public stance on social and political issues. The 2023 Sprout Social Index™ told a different story: Only a quarter of consumers said the most memorable brands speak about causes and news that align with their values.

But They want the activism baton to be passed to influencers they partner with. Almost all Gen Z agree they expect influencers to take a stand on social issues, per a Q2 2024 Sprout Pulse Survey. The emergence of influencer activism signals how younger consumers don’t just turn to these online personalities for product recs, and that many influencers are pressured to speak out (even when they’re ill- or under-informed).

The same survey found that almost half of consumers will unfollow brands if they work with influencers that don’t align with their audience’s values. Considering 68% of consumers follow brands to stay up to date on new products and services, losing followers can have serious revenue implications.