Radically Better Future: the Next Gen Reflect Both Profound Challenge As Well As Powerful Hope Reckoning for Brands,” We Detail the Voices and Visions of for Change
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The Next Gen Reckoning for Brands RADICALLY BETTER 1FUTURE Reckoning INTRODUCTION and Realization Overwhelming. Stressful. Uncertain. Scary. Divided. A raging dumpster fire. Passion. Power. Faith. Hope. Change. For a rising generation, the words used to describe 2020 In this new report, “Radically Better Future: The Next Gen reflect both profound challenge as well as powerful hope Reckoning for Brands,” we detail the voices and visions of for change. The confluence of a global health pandemic, a new generation as we face what may be one of the most economic crisis, racial justice uprising, divisive politics and transformative years for humanity in the last century. Born existential environmental threats has sparked a reckoning of crisis and creativity, this is a story of optimism and outrage. and a realization that it’s time for deep listening, bold A moment for reflection and renewal. An invitation to radical leadership and a radically better future. imagination and structural change for a world that works for all of us. As they navigate their own daily struggles and aspirational strivings, we asked more than 27,000 people across 27 international markets to share their experiences of the moment we’re in and their desires for the future they want. With a sense of urgency, passion and purpose, they are calling out a broken status quo and calling on brands to lead the way forward. BBMG X GLOBESCAN 2 INTRODUCTION “Although it’s a tragedy that it took all of this unrest for it to happen, people are becoming more passionate and more interested in getting involved in finding ways to make our world a better place.” Eric, 25, Medford, MA “I feel like a lot of issues 3 are finally coming to the surface and a lot of people are getting to the point where they're just tired of how they're being treated and tired of seeing people suffering. We're living through a societal shift, and I feel like now is one of the most powerful times in history.” "We’re living in a moment of reckoning and Jakerya, 23, Baltimore, MD realization. A time to reflect on where we stand as a human race and where we want to go. There’s a lot that we’ve been doing that’s putting us on a trajectory for a place we don’t want end up, and so it’s time to come to terms and really be bold in calling about a better reality." Jonathan, 23, New York, NY BBMG X GLOBESCAN CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 Next is Optimism Lead or Be Now & Outrage Left Behind 05 10 19 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 Welcome to the Age The Future Questions for of Regenerative Brands We Want Brand Leaders 27 38 42 BBMG X GLOBESCAN 4 IS NOW NEXT CHAPTER 1 The disruptive dynamics of 2020 have awakened a sense of urgency and a desire for structural change. BBMG X GLOBESCAN 5 Radical NEXT IS NOW Renewal In the context of a global health pandemic and economic crisis, young people are looking for a reset rather than a return to the status quo. Six in ten next gen And a similar majority (61%) respondents globally strongly agrees that say that in building the “we as a society should % post-pandemic recovery, respond to climate change the priority should be on with the same urgency” “restructuring our economy as we have responded so it deals better with to the health pandemic, 60 challenges like inequality compared to 53 percent of want the post-COVID recovery to and climate change,” respondents over age 30. prioritize restructuring our economy rather than just “getting our to deal with inequality and climate economy back to normal change rather than just getting back as soon as possible,” compared to 53 percent of to normal as soon as possible. respondents over age 30. BBMG X GLOBESCAN 6 With the exception of Asia, a majority of young people across NEXT IS NOW the globe are looking for structural changes to the economy Global as we look to the future. The majority of people under 30 want the post-COVID recovery to prioritize “restructuring our economy to deal Differences with inequality and climate change,” rather than just “getting back to normal as soon as possible.” Europe North America % Asia % 64compared to 60% of those over age 30 % 59compared to 51% of those over age 30 45compared to 41% of those Africa over age 30. A majority (55%) would prefer to “get our economy back to normal as % soon as possible,” and 59% Latin America of those over 30 feel the same. 72compared to 64% of those % over age 30 77compared to 70% of those over age 30 BBMG X GLOBESCAN 7 Power in NEXT IS NOW Protest In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, 1 in 5 the next generation is raising their young people in the USA have voices on the issues that matter. protested publicly at events and rallies in the past year. Three-quarters (73%) of 69% of those over 30. And global respondents under one-in-five (20%) young age 30 globally support people under 30 have “using public protests to protested publicly in the past raise awareness of an issue,” year, compared to only one compared to 65 percent in 10 people over 30 (10%), of respondents over age 30, and 14 percent have Gen Zers in the USA are personally protested publicly also 2.5X more likely than % at events and rallies in the Boomers to say they past year, compared to only strongly support using public 9 percent of respondents protests to raise awareness over age 30. of an issue (49% to 19%, 73 respectively) and 7.5X more support using public protests In the USA, three-fourths likely than Boomers to to raise awareness of an issue. of people under 30 (75%) have protested publicly in support using public the past year (23% to 3%, protests to raise awareness respectively). of an issue, compared to BBMG X GLOBESCAN 8 NEXT IS NOW WE CAN’T GO BACK EQUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS “The world is kind of breaking down and falling “I joined in a peaceful apart. We can’t go back protest when our LGBTQ to the old ways.” community members were Ethan, 16, Los Angeles, CA being attacked. I protested to say, ‘Hey, we are here and we deserve all the rights and freedoms that anyone else does.’” Lauren, 27, Orem, UT GIVING VOICE TO THE UNHEARD "Public protests are a way to give voice to what the unheard have been feeling. Now more than ever, protests are showing that these issues are not going unheard and you will hear our voice.” Peter, 23, Tallahassee, FL BBMG X GLOBESCAN 9 & OUTRAGE CHAPTER 2 Young people are more hopeful that the future can be better, but they are also more concerned about the increasing speed and scale of the world’s OPTIMISM challenges. BBMG X GLOBESCAN 10 Belief OPTIMISM & OUTRAGE in Better Despite the significant challenges facing the world, young people are more optimistic about the future than older generations. Six in ten next generation In the USA, the gap in respondents globally generational optimism is believe “our children and more than twice as large, grandchildren will have a with 64% of young people higher quality of life than we believing in a better future, do today,” compared to just compared to only 47% over half of respondents of those over age 30. % over age 30 (61% to 64 54%, respectively). in the USA believe our children and grandchildren will have a higher quality of life than we do today. BBMG X GLOBESCAN 11 OPTIMISM & OUTRAGE HOPE FOR CHANGE “The current state of our country has made me a little bit more cynical, yet I really hope that things will change in a positive way.” Gigi, 30, Oakland, CA BREAKING NORMS “Traditional norms are SEE THE BRIGHT SIDE starting to fade away. Young people are “It’s really important to look on the bright side getting more power, of things. We have to look for the light at the and this generation end of the tunnel and sometimes you have is becoming leaders.” to make your own light. Once we figure out Colin, 22, New York, NY how to make the best out of it, we can do FAITH IN HUMANITY some pretty amazing things. I look at life with an open mind because if you shut yourself off, “I have faith in humanity. You feel doubt and fear you’re not going to be able to experience all when you are alone. You the great things that life has to offer.” believe when you are in Avery, 17, Salinas, CA community with others.” MAKING THE BEST Jonathan, 23, New York, NY OF THE SITUATION “2020 has been a lot, but I feel inspired to find solutions and try to make the best of the situation and make it better.” Peter, 23, Tallahassee, FL BBMG X GLOBESCAN 12 'Very Serious' OPTIMISM & OUTRAGE Global Problems, Under 30 vs. Over 30 Comparison While COVID-19 is the most serious +12 +10 global problem for all, young people Unequal treatment Mental health prioritize equality and mental health of women problems more than older generations. While people across all In the USA, Gen Z generations name respondents are 1.5X more COVID-19, the spread likely to name “mental health of human diseases and problems” and 1.3X more climate change as the most likely to name the ”unequal + + serious global problems, treatment of women” as very 7 7 Extreme poverty Air pollution respondents under age serious global problems than 30 are more likely to name Boomers, (60% to 40%, and the “unequal treatment of 55% to 41% respectively).