Dividend side hustles and social media: How Gen Z and millennials are investing differently
Younger investors continue to reshape what it means to build wealth and how to invest to do it. They view dividend investing as a side hustle they can master through social media. Day trading isn’t a rare occurrence. Crypto-related stocks are seen as potentially netting big returns.
Still, the younger generations don’t diverge entirely from Gen X and baby boomers. They all value long-term gains and strong company management more than anything else when considering an investment and view the tech sector as having the best odds of delivering strong returns. And friends and family are trusted sources of investing advice across all generations.
Ultimately, a mix of new tools and old truths is shaping how the next generation builds wealth.
Methodology
The Motley Fool surveyed 2,000 American adults via Pollfish on July 17, 2025. Results were post-stratified to generate nationally representative data based on age and gender. The demographic breakdown of respondents is as follows: 28% Gen Z, 31% millennial, 33% Gen X, 9% baby boomer, 48% male, and 52% female. Pollfish employs organic random device engagement sampling, a method that recruits respondents through a randomized invitation process across various digital platforms. This technique helps to minimize selection bias and ensure a diverse participant pool.