Gen Z Research: Understanding the Next Generation of Consumers

Q: Do you offer international Gen Z research?

Absolutely. We conduct <strong>Gen Z market research</strong> <a href="https://touchstoneresearch.com/global-research/">globally</a>, supporting multi-country studies through a vetted network of local partners and multilingual research tools.

Explore how our Gen Z research solutions help brands uncover what drives today’s teens. From content to commerce, we deliver the insights that matter.

Talk to a Gen Z Research Expert

Gen Z Research: Understanding the Next Generation of Consumers

Gen Z Research That Meets Teens Where They Are Today

Authentic Gen Z Consumer Insights: Learn what truly drives Gen Z decision-making through real, in-context research experiences.
COPPA-Certified Youth Panel Access: Reach teens and parents safely through Panelpolls—our trusted, compliant Youth & Family panel.
Teen-Friendly Qual & Quant Methodologies: From video discussions to mobile surveys, we use tools that teens actually enjoy participating in
Actionable Gen Z Market Research Outcomes: Translate insights into creative, brand, and product strategies that stay culturally relevant.
Moderators Specialized in Teen Market Research: Our team knows how to connect with teens and create space for honest, thoughtful feedback.

Decades of Experience in Gen Z and Teen Market Research

With over 30 years of experience in youth and teen market research, Touchstone Research is a trusted leader in Gen Z research. We’ve conducted more than 1 million youth surveys, facilitated 50,000 qualitative sessions, and engaged over 250,000 members through our proprietary, COPPA-certified panel, Panelpolls. As one of the longest-running youth and family panels in the industry, Panelpolls provides direct access to teens, kids, and young adults. Our expert team engages daily with Gen Z participants using methods specifically designed for their behaviors, attention spans, and digital habits. Every study is conducted with a deep commitment to safety, compliance, and ethical standards.

Gen Z Research Services That Deliver Real-World Insights

Touchstone Research offers full-service and flexible options for conducting generation z studies. Whether you’re exploring media preferences, product feedback, or teen buying behavior, our Gen Z market research services combine digital fluency, methodological rigor, and deep youth expertise.

Gen Z Qualitative Research

Unlock Deep Insights into Teen Audiences

Delve into the motivations, behaviors, and preferences of teens with in-depth qualitative research.

Touchstone’s expert approach is tailored to the unique challenges of researching this dynamic age group, providing actionable findings that empower informed decision-making and foster innovation. Whether through focus groups, in-depth interviews, or teen-friendly ethnographic studies, we help you understand the “why” behind young consumers’ actions.

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Gen Z Quantitative Research

Drive data-backed decisions with quantitative research built for Gen Z.

Our team designs custom surveys that reflect how teens think, feel, and communicate—mobile-first, visual, and fast-paced. Whether measuring brand perception, message recall, or purchase intent, our quant work delivers accurate insights from real Gen Z voices

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Gen Z Market Research Recruitment & Fieldwork

Reach the right teen audiences through expert recruitment and fieldwork.

We recruit teens and parents using rigorous screening, layered validations, and compliance with youth privacy regulations. Our in-house qualitative recruitment team ensures qualified, high-quality participation across all study types—local or global.

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Gen Z Market Research Recruitment & Fieldwork

Gen Z UX Research

Build smarter products with UX research focused on Gen Z behaviors.

From usability testing to journey mapping, we uncover how teens navigate your digital experience. Our tools help brands design apps, games, and platforms that are intuitive, engaging, and teen-approved.

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Gen Z Insight Communities & Online Panels

Gain continuous insights from custom online Gen Z communities.

Create always-on or pop-up communities where teens can share ideas, test concepts, and discuss trends. Activities are tailored for youth engagement, delivering faster, ongoing feedback that supports iterative development.

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Gen Z Insight Communities & Online Panels

Gen Z Dial Testing

Real-Time Feedback from Teen Audiences with Dial Tester by Touchstone Research

Evaluate how Gen Z audiences respond to media content in real time. Our proprietary dial testing tool tracks emotional engagement second-by-second, offering insight into what resonates, what doesn’t, and why.

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Gen Z Secure Content Testing

Protect sensitive content with Secure Content Testing (SCT).

Safeguard your assets with customizable watermarking and access controls, ensuring Gen Z-facing content stays protected while gathering high-value feedback in a controlled environment.

Learn More About SCT

The Gen Z Audiences Behind Our Research

Whether you’re targeting high school students, first-time voters, or socially conscious consumers, our experience in generation Z research ensures you get insights that reflect the full diversity and complexity of this key demographic.

High School Students
Tech-Savvy Teens
Social Media Enthusiasts
Gaming Aficionados
Movie & TV Buffs
Loyal Consumers of Teen Brands
Youth Trendsetters
Creative Young Minds & Aspiring Artists
Young Influencers & Content Creators

Eco-Conscious & Socially Aware Teens
STEM Enthusiasts
Athletes & Sports Fans
Music Lovers & Concert-Goers
Digital Natives
Fashion-Forward Teens
Diverse Cultural Backgrounds
And many more!

Gen Z Research FAQs

Looking for answers about our Gen Z research services? Below are some of the most common questions we receive as a leading Gen Z research agency—from how we engage teen audiences to the methods we use to uncover deeper consumer insights.

What is Gen Z research?

Gen Z research is the study of behaviors, attitudes, values, and preferences of individuals born between approximately 1997 and 2012. It includes both qualitative and quantitative methods to uncover how this generation thinks, shops, consumes media, and interacts with brands.

How is researching Gen Z different from other generations?

Gen Z has grown up with smartphones, social media, and instant access to information. Research with this group requires mobile-first tools, youth-friendly interfaces, and platforms that reflect their fast-paced, visual-first communication style.

What methods do you use in your research on Generation Z?

We use a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies—including surveys, in-depth interviews, focus groups, insight communities, mobile diaries, and content testing. All methods are tailored to be age-appropriate and engaging for Gen Z participants.

Can you recruit teens for qualitative and quantitative research?

Yes. Touchstone manages all research participant recruitment in-house through our proprietary, COPPA-certified Panelpolls panel. We recruit teens and young adults using rigorous screeners, layered quality checks, and parent/guardian permissions when required.

Do you offer international Gen Z research?

Absolutely. We conduct Gen Z market research globally, supporting multi-country studies through a vetted network of local partners and multilingual research tools.

What types of industries do you support with Gen Z consumer insights?

We work with clients in media, entertainment, tech, education, CPG, retail, gaming, and more. Our Gen Z consumer insights help brands build better products, campaigns, and content strategies that align with teen behaviors and expectations.

How do you ensure compliance and participant safety?

We are fully compliant with COPPA, GDPR, and other youth research regulations. Our research platforms, consent processes, and data security measures are designed to protect teen participants at every stage of the study.

Gen Z Consumer Insights Across Key Industries

We understand that Gen Z’s expectations, values, and behaviors vary by category. Our industry-specific approach to generation Z studies helps you uncover actionable insights tailored to your market—whether you’re launching a new product, optimizing a campaign, or tracking teen engagement trends over time.

Technology

Media & Entertainment

Youth & Family

Education

Consumer Packaged Goods

Sports, Wellness, & Fitness

Food, Beverage, & Restaurant

Retail & Apparel

Healthcare

Toys & Gaming

Trusted Gen Z Research Partner for Global Brands

What Our Clients Say About Our Gen Z Research

Touchstone Research has been an invaluable partner in our product design process, helping us reach a hard-to-reach population (K-12) students, and upholding the highest standards around safety and accessibility for participants. … Having worked with other research panels in the past, Touchstone has the best customer service, and panel quality. We plan to keep working together for the foreseeable future!

UX Researcher
Ed-Tech Company
With the knowledge gained in our user research efforts with Touchstone, we have been empowered to make more data informed decisions about our product by keeping user behavior and motivation at the forefront of our work. Along with being flexible in our partnership model, Touchstone has supported this effort by offering a dedicated team that continues to learn about our unique product and business needs and provides quick turnaround for recruitment, facilitation, and topline reports.

Senior Digital Product Manager
Ed-tech Company
I got the opportunity to work with the members Touchstone Research through another company. I was so impressed with them that they were the first group that I called when I got my own research project. Not only did they respond immediately, and give me a fair price for the work I requested, but they helped me along the way and were in constant contact. They found children from different regions from families of different interests. They also set up all of the online sessions, got the participants set up and ready to go so that all I had to worry about was myself! I just didn’t realize that this amount of support was possible, and now that I have that, I can never go back. For anyone who is unsure about doing online research, you don’t have anything to think about with Touchstone. They will take care of you and your project will go smoothly every time from start to finish.

Educational Consultant
Media & Entertainment Company