Gen Z relies on social media for meal planning, new survey shows

Nearly three-quarters of Gen Z get their meal inspiration from social media – double the number who rely on cookbooks.

Moving away from traditional sources of inspiration, 72 percent of 18–27-year-olds get food ideas from platforms like TikTok (84 percent) and Instagram (75 percent), reshaping how this generation plans what to eat.

In comparison, only 32 percent turn to a traditional cookbook and 45 percent chat with family and friends.

Influencers also have more sway — with 44 percent of young adults claiming they’re the most trusted source for food content – ahead of celebrity chefs (39 percent) and cooking channels (34 percent).

With 64 percent of the 1,000 Gen Z adults polled following foodie content creators on social media, compared to 40 percent who keep up to date with cooks.

The research, commissioned by Publicis Commerce, also found many are turning inspiration into action, with 42 percent buying ingredients via social media content.

Discount codes (45 percent) and affiliate links (38 percent) were big motivators, while speed and convenience matter too, as 21 percent claim this way of buying made the shopping process quicker.

Others said it saves them searching for ingredients elsewhere (37 percent), going out to the shop to buy it (30 percent), and writing a list (22 percent).

It also emerged that the typical week sees Gen Z spend three hours and 54 minutes consuming food-related content on social media.

Steve Ricketts, chief commerce officer at Publicis Media, said: “This research shows just how central social media has become to how Gen Z think about food, from what they cook to what ends up in their basket.

“They’re finding recipes through influencers, discovering products in real time, and in many cases buying them directly through the same social media platforms.

“The way Gen Z shops is clearly being shaped by what they see online, with platforms like TikTok turning food content into an easy way to purchase.

“For brands, that means the time between inspiration and buying is shrinking, and the implications for how people shop are huge.

“We help clients navigate that change, making sure their products are discoverable and shoppable in the right moments.”

The research also found that this new way of shopping could be helping produce a generation of chefs, with a third admitting they rarely dine out due to a lack of money and time.

While 52 percent enjoy cooking and finding new recipes to make, and 42 percent prefer to make quality meals at home rather than eating at a restaurant or café.

But 24 percent would struggle to think of meal ideas without social media, and 63 percent also credit it for making them try flavors and dishes they’d never have considered before.

The study, carried out via OnePoll, also revealed the social media crazes people have tried cooking and eating, including bubble tea (33 percent), roast dinner wraps (24 percent), and pancake cereal (20 percent).

TOP 10 SOURCES FOR MEAL INSPIRATION FOR GEN Z:

1. Social media      
2. Chatting with friends/family  
3. Online recipe pages     
4. TV shows    
5. Cookbooks   
6. Searching online search engines  

   
7. Films 
8. Supermarket websites    
9. Blogs 
10. Recipe kits e.g. Hello Fresh