YouTube is many things for each of us: a place for entertainment, to learn new things and to cultivate our passions, but for many young Italians, YouTube also represents a true ally for studying, especially when important moments such as end-of-year exams and final exams are approaching. This is according to a survey that we commissioned from CensusWide and focused on Italian Gen Z (18-28 years old).
The impact for Gen Z
The research revealed that as many as 2 out of 3 recent high school graduates and future high school graduates (18-21 years old) have used or will use YouTube as a valuable resource to prepare for state exams.
And it doesn’t end there: 77% of young Italians who watch educational content on YouTube use it to delve deeper into school subjects, and 82% explore topics and ideas that they don’t have the opportunity to delve deeper into at school, thus demonstrating a true hunger for knowledge that goes beyond the curriculum. Even for everyday homework or a simple review, YouTube is a faithful “ally” for 67% of those interviewed.
And what are the subjects where YouTube creators make the difference? The survey tells us that they are above all (in order of relevance): Math, English, History, Physics and Art.
Creators at the center of this transformation
These data do not surprise those who live the platform every day, such as the creators themselves who represent these subjects and interact every day with the young people of their communities. We asked them to give us a reading of the results!
“Working in schools and universities, I can confirm that YouTube has become a valuable point of reference for many students and colleagues over the years. In recent years, the offer of quality educational content on the platform has been enriched and educational channels like mine can be very useful for kids to review what they have seen in class, to prepare for a test and to recover in case of difficulties or absences. I myself, on a daily basis, keep myself updated and continue to learn new interesting things thanks to YouTube.” – Elia Bombardelli
“The results of this survey show how YouTube is still the number 1 platform for educational content. I have always preferred YouTube for my content because it gives me the opportunity to create videos with real educational value, which are viewed by users who really want to learn. The survey focuses on Generation Z, but from experience I can say that we get the same result every day with users of much older ages. I think YouTube is the perfect educational platform for any age.” – JoEnglish
“The research confirms what we experience every day on our channel: YouTube has become a central space for those who want to learn in a free and accessible way. History, often perceived as distant or difficult, is getting closer to kids thanks to direct language, visual content and continuous interaction. For many students, “La Storia sul Tubo” is not only a support for quizzes and exams, but an opportunity to become passionate about critical and conscious knowledge, also useful in everyday life.” La Storia sul Tubo
“These data make me smile, because they perfectly describe what I experience every day on my channel: YouTube is my window to the world to bring physics to everyone, constantly trying to transform it from a school subject to an exciting story. For my community, it is a place of discovery, but also of education, where science is not boring, but a curious journey to be integrated with the notions that we are taught at school!” – Virginia Benzi (Quantum Girl)
This connection is so strong that over 67% of kids spontaneously associate the word “learning” with YouTube , more than any other platform. And it’s not just for traditional study: many declared that YouTube is their favorite tool for acquiring skills useful for both personal and professional growth, also thanks to the rapidly growing format of video podcasts . Yes, you read that right! More than 72% of young people turn to the platform to listen to or watch educational content in podcast format, making learning even more versatile and accessible.
YouTube is not just an entertainment center. It is a truly vibrant educational ecosystem that supports and enriches the learning journey of Gen Z. It offers immediate access to a wealth of content, from the most “classic” school subjects to innovative and interdisciplinary topics.
From everyday homework to preparing for the dreaded final exams, YouTube proves to be a precious ally in studying , capable of making learning more flexible, truly tailor-made for everyone!