What is Generation Z’s view on the digitalization of services, a trend visible across most industries and sectors? More than three quarters welcome it, some have a neutral stance, and only six out of one hundred young people see it negatively. This emerged from a survey by the agency Behavio for ISIC student card issuer, GTS Alive. The survey was conducted among the adult segment of Generation Z, i.e., people aged 18 to 29.
“The most optimistic view of digitalization comes from the youngest segment of the age group, that is, people aged 18 to 24—especially first-year bachelor’s students. Also, young residents of large cities and people with high incomes,” commented Radek Schich, director of GTS Alive.
Compared to this group, young people with low incomes are less positively inclined toward digitalization, though even among them, 70 percent welcome it. Overall, men perceive digitalization more optimistically than women.
And what do young people associate with digitalization—meaning the replacement of physical things and processes with a phone or computer? Most commonly: easier access to information, simplification of life, and time savings. But also dependency on mobile phones. And 40 percent of Generation Z members are concerned about their personal data in connection with digitalization.
The vast majority of young people use a smartphone; only one percent prefer a classic button phone. They cite reasons such as wanting to spend less time on their phone, feeling less concerned about their personal data with a button phone, and for some, the lower price is also a factor.
Among smartphone owners, roughly one third use an iPhone and two thirds use a phone with the Android system. When it comes to the preference between physical cards or passes and a mobile app, well over half of Generation Z prefer the app, about a quarter prefer the physical card, and the rest don’t have a preference.
The main thing that discourages young people from using apps that replace physical cards is the fear that their phone might run out of battery at the wrong moment—specifically, 39 percent of them worry about this.
Of physical cards or ID cards, young people most commonly carry their ID card in their wallet, followed by the ISIC student card, the dm active beauty card, Tesco Clubcard, and Lítačka.
The survey was conducted in November 2024 on a representative sample of 500 people aged 18–29.
Notes for editors:
GTS Alive s.r.o. in the Czech Republic issues and manages ISIC student cards and ISIC Scholar pupil cards, ITIC teacher cards, and, to a lesser extent, other cards. The company was founded in August 2000. Its predecessor in the Czech Republic was GTS International. GTS Alive s.r.o. is part of the international GTS Alive Group, headquartered in Prague, with branches in seventeen countries on four continents.
GTS Alive, through the ISIC PORT chip identification system, also provides many elementary and secondary schools with secure access to their buildings and an electronic attendance system. The company also facilitates travel or accident insurance for students.
For more information, contact:
Jan Šimral, media representative of GTS Alive
Tel.: +420 737 944 370
E-mail: info@jansimral.com
