Social Media Overtakes Traditional Channels for Holiday Shopping Inspiration

Rhea-AI Summary

Sprout Social (NASDAQ: SPT) Q4 2025 Pulse Survey finds social media leads holiday gift inspiration for Gen Z and Millennials and ranks second overall behind in-store shopping. 80% of shoppers plan to use social as much or more this season; 45% cite social for product ideas. The report says $1.5 trillion social commerce market places social channels at the center of discovery and care.

73% of shoppers plan to contact brands via social this holiday and most expect fast, personalized replies; 69% of consumers (and 78% of Gen Z/Millennials) are comfortable with AI for faster, personalized social customer care. The survey flags authenticity, responsiveness and data privacy as 2026 priorities for brands.

Positive

• 80% of shoppers will use social media as much or more this holiday season
• 73% of shoppers plan to contact brands via social during the holiday season
• 45% of respondents use social media for product ideas
• 69% of consumers (78% of Gen Z/Millennials) comfortable with AI for social customer care
• $1.5 trillion cited size of the social commerce market

Negative

• 55% of consumers believe brands do not act sufficiently on social insights
• Only 12% cite AI chatbots as a source for product ideas
• Data privacy and ad control are top platform issues for users entering 2026

• New research finds that social media is the number one source for holiday gift inspiration for Gen Z and Millennials
• 73% of shoppers plan to contact a brand on social media this holiday season
• A large majority of consumers are comfortable with companies using AI to deliver better customer care
  

CHICAGO, Nov. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New research from Sprout Social (NASDAQ: SPT), an industry-leading provider of social media management and analytics software, reveals that social media is a leading hub for shopping, customer care, and product discovery around peak retail season. The Q4 2025 Pulse Survey highlights how authentic, human-driven content and customer care outperform automation, offering brands clear strategies to capture revenue as we enter the peak of the gift-giving season.

The survey finds that 80% of shoppers plan to use social media as much, or more, than last year to find holiday gifts. Among Gen Z and Millennials, social media is now the #1 source for holiday gift inspiration; across all consumers it ranks second only to in-store shopping. When asked where they seek product ideas, 45% of respondents cited social media, ahead of friends and family (35%), TV (26%), review sites (22%) and AI chatbots (12%). The data also reveals a shift in trust: user-generated comments (38%) now slightly surpass influencer recommendations (35%) as the most trusted form of social gifting input.

The $1.5 trillion social commerce market has put social media at the center of discovery, purchasing and, unsurprisingly, customer care. The report shows that 73% of shoppers plan to contact a brand via social this holiday season, and the majority expect fast, personalized responses. Sixty-nine percent of consumers, and 78% of Gen Z and Millennials, are comfortable with companies using AI to deliver faster and more personalized social customer care, making the strategic use of AI chatbots critical for scaling care efforts and maintaining a competitive edge during the holiday rush.

“We know social media has become the hub for commerce, but seeing it emerge as the number one source of holiday gift inspiration among younger consumers truly underscores its influence,” said Scott Morris, Chief Marketing Officer at Sprout Social. “To reach these audiences, brands need to be present across diverse social platforms—delivering relatable content, authentic engagement and responsive care. AI can help scale care and creativity, positioning brands to show up more meaningfully in more places. The holidays are the perfect moment to refine strategies, reach new audiences and build momentum for the year ahead.”

Looking to 2026, the Q4 2025 Pulse Survey signals a crucial pivot for brands where authenticity is no longer a point of differentiation, but a prerequisite. Human-generated content is the number-one priority for users next year; almost 90% of consumers feel brands do a decent job of listening on social, yet 55% believe brands don’t do enough to act on those insights. Data privacy and ad control top the list of platform issues for users heading into 2026, and Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok remain the networks users plan to engage with more or for the first time. Brands that align on authenticity, responsiveness and platform strategy stand to lead the next wave of social commerce.

Learn more and access the full Q4 2025 Pulse Survey here.

About the Data
This consumer survey was conducted online by Panoplai on behalf of Sprout Social. Participants included 2,270 social media users across the US, UK, and Australia. The survey was conducted from September 25 to September 28, 2025.

About Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a global leader in social media management and analytics software, built on the belief that All Business is Social℠. Sprout’s intuitive platform puts powerful social data into the hands of approximately 30,000 brands so they can deliver smarter, faster business impact. Named the #1 Best Software Product by G2’s 2024 Best Software Award, Sprout offers comprehensive publishing and engagement functionality, customer care, influencer marketing, advocacy, crisis management, and AI-powered, predictive business intelligence. Sprout’s software operates across all major social media networks and digital platforms. For more information about Sprout Social (NASDAQ: SPT), visit sproutsocial.com

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Media:Contact
Kaitlyn Gronek
Email: pr@sproutsocial.com
Phone: (773) 904-9674

FAQ

What did Sprout Social (SPT) report about holiday shopping habits on Nov 4, 2025?

The Q4 2025 Pulse Survey reports 80% of shoppers will use social media as much or more, with social the top gift inspiration source for Gen Z and Millennials.

How many shoppers plan to contact brands via social this holiday season according to SPT survey?

73% of shoppers plan to contact a brand via social during the holiday season.

What percent of consumers are comfortable with AI for social customer care in Sprout Social's Nov 4, 2025 survey?

69% of consumers overall, and 78% of Gen Z and Millennials, said they are comfortable with companies using AI for faster, personalized social care.

How significant is social commerce in the Sprout Social Q4 2025 findings?

The report cites a $1.5 trillion social commerce market that places social channels at the center of discovery, purchasing and customer care.

What trust signals do consumers prefer for gifting recommendations according to the SPT survey?

User-generated comments (38%) slightly surpass influencer recommendations (35%) as the most trusted social gifting input.

What strategic priorities does Sprout Social say brands need for 2026?

Brands should prioritize authentic human-generated content, responsiveness to social insights, and address data privacy and ad control concerns.