A new analysis of over 19,000 users finds that young adults are abandoning narrative-based guidance in favor of fast, personalized self-assessments, with implications for how identity formation is measured, tracked, and understood.
As traditional self-help content struggles to retain Gen Z’s attention, new behavioral data from MyIQ points to a sharp and measurable change in how personal growth is pursued. In a review of 19,472 anonymized users aged 18-26, 62% reported replacing at least one book purchase with a structured assessment in the past year. Among respondents aged 20-22, that figure rose to 68%.
Rather than investing in long-form advice with generalizable lessons, Gen Z users appear to prefer tools that offer direct interpretation and immediate feedback. According to the same data, 71% said that standardized tests provided “clearer next steps” than books, and 76% cited the ability to “see where I stand versus peers” as a key motivator.
This behavioral substitution suggests more than a convenience trend. It reflects a generational preference for measurement over abstraction, for structured answers over open-ended reflection. The influence of digital platforms, particularly algorithmic curation, compressed attention spans, and exposure to hyper-personalized content, is converging with economic and emotional factors to reshape how identity work is approached.
Among users who said they had reduced their reliance on books, 54% reported deferring at least two purchases in the past six months. While affordability played a role, it wasn’t the primary driver. 69% pointed to time efficiency, while 45% valued the privacy of in-account debriefs over public discussion forums or social media-based feedback. Trends were consistent across gender and geography, with the strongest uptake seen in urban students and early-career professionals.
The result is a reframing of self-development not as a narrative journey but as a feedback cycle. Tests offer percentile rankings, structured insights, and targeted suggestions, which are tools that align with a generation raised on dashboards, diagnostics, and continuous optimization.
Books, by contrast, are increasingly perceived as too abstract, too slow, or too uncertain in outcome. The process of sifting through case studies or frameworks to locate one's profile can feel inefficient in a cultural climate defined by speed and specificity.
This shift does not imply a rejection of growth or introspection. Rather, it points to a new modality of self-inquiry, one that privileges structure, standardization, and speed. For platforms like MyIQ, which combine cognitive benchmarking with personalized analysis, the implications are significant: the tools once seen as supplemental are now becoming central to how Gen Z defines, understands, and improves itself.
About MyIQ:
MyIQ was launched in 2024 and is used by over a million individuals worldwide. It is a digital self-knowledge platform that offers more than an IQ score, with over 9 million completed tests across the various test categories, cognitive, personality, and relationships, all with personalised, actionable insights. The platform offers over 25 brain games, more than 150 intelligence puzzles, over 20 hours of expert video content, and 300+ available lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making. Through its IQ test, full-spectrum personality assessment, and relationship insight quiz, MyIQ delivers structured, personalized feedback that helps individuals better understand their inner world and behaviour.
MyIQ was launched in 2024 and is used by over a million individuals worldwide. It is a digital self-knowledge platform that offers more than an IQ score, with over 9 million completed tests across the various test categories, cognitive, personality, and relationships, all with personalised, actionable insights. The platform offers over 25 brain games, more than 150 intelligence puzzles, over 20 hours of expert video content, and 300+ available lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making. Through its IQ test, full-spectrum personality assessment, and relationship insight quiz, MyIQ delivers structured, personalized feedback that helps individuals better understand their inner world and behaviour.
Contact:
MyIQ
pr@myiq.com
Sophie de Villiers
PR Manager
MyIQ
pr@myiq.com
Sophie de Villiers
PR Manager