WHILE some people are looking forward to 5G so they can more easily stream on their home networks, younger consumers envision taking most of the technology’s benefits with them wherever they go. Deloitte’s recent Connectivity and Mobile Trends Survey suggests that once 5G is broadly available, millennials and Generation Z (consumers approximately 14 to 36 years old) could drive demand for a variety of consumer technologies.1
Close to half of millennial and Gen Z respondents said that 5G will allow them to watch streaming video on their mobile devices more than ever before. The number of millennials watching digital and online video has already surpassed those watching traditional TV, and many of them tend to watch videos offered through social platforms.2 Our survey found that these younger consumers also typically own the largest number of connected devices. All of these factors point toward increased streaming activity among millennials and Gen Z when 5G is widely available.
When it comes to gaming, smartphone is emerging as the most-preferred device, surpassing PCs and consoles. Deloitte’s Digital Media Trends survey (13th edition) finds that about 73 percent of Gen Z and 67 percent of millennials play games on their smartphones.3 Because both Gen Z and millennials are “social savvy,”4 it’s unsurprising that they have greater affinity for multiplayer games that incorporate social features. These games have morphed into social avenues where they can hang out virtually with families and friends.
