A survey on player behavior shows strong differences in how members of “Gen Z” (11-26) behave compared to Baby Boomers (59-77). Especially in the use of consoles, Twitch, or social media platforms like Instagram, behavior changes significantly. MeinMMO examines the differences.
What kind of survey is this? The company “tinuiti” surveyed 1,000 players who play daily or weekly and analyzed the results. We requested and evaluated the survey results at MeinMMO. The work of the site seems aimed at companies wanting to know how to best spend their advertising budget to reach the most gamers.
The survey from the company primarily distinguishes by age:
- “Baby Boomers” are currently between 59 and 77 years old.
- Members of Gen X are between 43 and 58 years old.
- Gen Y, the so-called Millennials, includes people between 27 and 42.
- The Gen Z consists of people who are between 11 and 26 years old in 2023.
- Those younger than 11 belong to “Gen A”, but they are not relevant to the survey.
In the course of the article, we primarily compare the answers of Baby Boomers (59-77) with those of Gen Z (11-26).
What does “Okay, Boomer” mean? The phrase “Okay, Boomer” is usually not directed at 60-year-olds but at anyone who, in the eyes of those who consider themselves cool, does not understand and cannot comprehend every nuance of a current trend.
The streamer DrDisrespect (then 38) had to take an “Okay, Boomer” from xQc.
Some cheeky and indecent employees of MeinMMO even dare to slander venerable editorial directors in this way.
DrDisrespect is 41 years old, he technically belongs to “Gen Y”, but he is more often seen as a Boomer because he is significantly older than most other streamers:
Younger players also use gaming for social contacts – Older ones, not at all
Where do we see a significant difference? Some members of Gen Z deliberately use gaming to meet new people (8%) and to stay in touch with friends (12%).
Baby Boomers hardly use gaming at all (only 3% for both answers).
The most commonly cited reasons for playing for both age groups are “to relax” and “to be entertained”, with relaxation being dominant among older players.
Note: The embedded statistics are somewhat peculiar. You need to hover your cursor over the bars to see what they represent:
Mobile gaming dominates across all age groups – Older players have nothing to do with consoles
What is surprising in the survey: One might assume that older players primarily play on PC and, in fact, 57% of surveyed older players state that the PC is their favorite platform.
However, consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch are hardly used by older players; they, like all other age groups, increasingly play on their mobile phones or tablets.
Twitch, TikTok, and Instagram belong to the young
Where do we see another significant difference? Generally: Older players can make very little of streaming: Only 10% of Boomers watch Twitch at least once a week, while almost every second Millennial does. The enthusiasm for Twitch among Gen Z players is just a bit lower.
While 48% of Gen Z players and 44% of Millennials reported that they have bought a game based on a streamer’s recommendation, only 14% of Boomers say this.
The same picture emerges when asking players if they have attended an in-game event, like a concert in Fortnite: The younger, the higher the probability.
Where do players find information about games? The most important platform where players learn about new games is YouTube, followed by Facebook and gaming websites. Twitch and Steam play only a minor role in the search for new games.
For older players, Facebook is significantly more important than for younger ones. This confirms Facebook’s reputation as a “senior platform”: Younger players are apparently bothered by the fact that they should provide their real name there.
A significant difference is also seen with Instagram and TikTok, which are more platforms for younger people.
Why Facebook isn’t for him was explained by MontanaBlack, who often hears in the German area that he is “a senior”. However, he is only 35 years old:
MontanaBlack announces Twitch contract termination – Wants to know, “who loves him the most”
