Valentine’s Day in Advertising through the eyes of Generation Z
Valentine’s Day in Advertising or more simply put: Love, commercials and everything in between.
Yasssss, Valentine’s Day is coming up – the time when love is in the air and brands are scrambling to catch the vibe of love in all its forms. As a Gen Z human, I can’t help but notice this chaotic dance of brands trying to grab our attention and hit the jackpot (especially in our wallets) Get ready guys. We’re getting geared up to explore this misunderstood universe of Valentine’s Day ads. Specifically that time of the year when romance and capitalism dance together.
Love on fleek, bye-bye normal ADS
I’m not kidding when I say this: Gen Z has a fake detector. We like to think we’ve grown up in an age of authenticity, where everything real is the law. I’ve heard that word authentic so many times that I feel like a lot of people don’t know exactly what it means anymore, especially in Advertising. So when it comes to Valentine’s Day ads, let’s ditch the clichés and romantic stories that have been run a billion times. We want ads that understand our individuality, not recycled scenarios from romantic soap operas. It’s not all about How I Met Your Mother. Let’s be clear: if you don’t bring something fresh and authentic to the table, you’re not going to impress Gen Z, plain and simple.
Love is Love, and ADS should be too
Valentine’s Day in 2024, the era of political correctness, is no longer just about romantic love, it’s about celebrating all kinds of love. From self-love to friendship, brands that understand the diversity of relationships earn bonus points. Gen Z is all about inclusivity, and if your ad doesn’t reflect that, it might be better to send a direct message in your Instagram DM and leave the Valentine’s Day campaign for next year.
Valentine’s Day in Advertising or Singles Awareness Day?
Who says Valentine’s Day is just for couples? Gen Z embraces the solo lifestyle, and I think brands should do the same. Change the perspective and show us how to enjoy it alone or with our squad of friends. Go with the premise: who needs a relationship when you’ve got pizza, Netflix and a good playlist? Brands that catch on to this vibe will earn more love reacts than they can imagine.
Love Yourself, Buy our Swag
Self-love is the anthem, and savvy advertisers know it. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to be reminded that we don’t need another person to validate us. Show us products and experiences that scream “LOVE YOURSELF” and you’ll see how all of Generation Z does “shopping therapy”.
Valentine’s Day in Advertising: Keep it real sau Just Bye, Karen
Authenticity is our universal love language, and we’re pros at sensing when something is fake. Valentine’s Day commercials that reflect real emotions and situations in our lives are the ones that speak to us for real, unfiltered. Ditch the overly glossy perfection and show us authentic moments. Remember this, whoever you are – brand, advertiser, agency: authenticity not only sells, it earns the respect of us, Gen Z. So, dear advertisers, before you launch into this chaos called “Valentine’s Day” when you have Generation Z in focus, remember this: we don’t fall for clichés. We want authenticity, diversity and, of course, some humour. The creations that stand out celebrate all shades of love, and most importantly, show some respect for our intelligence.
Unleash your creativity, leave everything cliché used and reused at the door. If you know how to make them dance together, love and advertising can go hand in hand.
