Key Findings
■ More than Half of Students Use AI in Learning—Firmly Established as a “Personal Tutor”
・61.8% of university students and 54.7% of high school students said they use AI in their daily studies.
・Main uses include “explaining difficult concepts” and “summarizing key points.” AI is increasingly being used like a personal tutor, with students especially valuing its time-saving benefits.
■ Taking and Sharing Photos of the Blackboard Becomes the New Norm—Some Schools Even Encourage It
・Nearly half of university students photograph classroom blackboards, and more than 30% share those photos with friends.
・While stricter school rules mean that only about 30% of high school students take photos, some schools now explicitly encourage it as a learning aid.
■ Taking and Sharing Photos of the Blackboard Becomes the New Norm—Some Schools Even Encourage It
・Nearly half of university students photograph classroom blackboards, and more than 30% share those photos with friends.
・While stricter school rules mean that only about 30% of high school students take photos, some schools now explicitly encourage it as a learning aid.
Survey Overview
・Theme: Independent survey on “Learning Styles of Generation Z”
・Period: July 31 – August 1, 2025
・Conducted by: GMO NIKKO Inc.
・Region: Japan
・Target: 986 high school and university students (ages 16–20)
・Method: Online survey (results adjusted to match demographic distributions in the market)
Survey Results
■ More than Half of Students Use AI, Replacing Traditional One-on-One Learning
・Over 60% of university students and about half of high school students reported using AI in their studies.
・Among high school students, usage shows a gender gap: more than 60% of female students rely on AI, while less than half of male students do so.
Furthermore, when members of Z Trend Lab by GMO who are high school students were asked about their specific use of AI in learning, many responded that they rely on it as a “personal teacher”—most commonly to receive clear explanations of concepts they do not understand.
Some students also noted the significant time-saving benefits of AI, explaining that while it might take 30 minutes to an hour to resolve difficult points using textbooks or reference materials, AI provides answers almost instantly.
■Smartphone Note-Taking and Sharing with Friends
・University Students Casually Photograph and Share Blackboard Notes and Their Own Notebooks
About half of university students take photos of blackboard notes during class, and more than 30% share those images with friends—reflecting a new study style characteristic of digital natives.
Among high school students, the rate is just over 30%, largely due to restrictions on smartphone use during class. Interestingly, some schools now even allow students to photograph the blackboard to help them concentrate more on the teacher’s lecture.
■Use of Social Media and Video Platforms in Daily Studies (High School vs. University Students)
・Video Platforms Have Become Indispensable Study Tools
・More than half of both high school and university students incorporate YouTube into their learning.
・Some study channels boast over two million subscribers, highlighting YouTube’s role as a mainstream educational resource.
・According to participating high school students, the greatest advantage of YouTube is the “overwhelming clarity of explanations.”
■Gender-Based Survey on Social Media and Video Platforms Used by High School Students
・About Half Use YouTube; Instagram and TikTok Short Videos Also on the Rise
・Roughly half of high school students reported using YouTube as a study tool.
・In addition, short-form videos on Instagram and TikTok are increasingly being adopted as efficient learning resources, particularly among female students.
■Conclusion
For Generation Z, AI, social media, and video platforms are no longer supplementary tools but are becoming central to learning itself. In particular, the use of AI aligns with their values of learning “efficiently and at their own pace,” and it is already being incorporated into daily study routines.
In light of these findings, educational institutions are encouraged to adopt approaches that reflect the learning style of digital-native students. This includes providing adaptive learning(※1) that adjusts content to each learner’s level of understanding, as well as digitizing blackboard materials to design a learning environment that can be continuously updated.
（※1）Adaptive learning: a method of study that delivers optimized content tailored to each learner, enabling more efficient and effective learning.
Availability of Additional Survey Results
In addition to the findings presented above, more detailed data and additional survey results are available.
Members of the press who wish to access these materials are invited to contact “Z Trend Lab by GMO” (E-mail: [email protected]).
Please note that this information is available exclusively to media representatives.
About “Z Trend Lab by GMO
（URL：https://www.ztrendlab.com/service/index.html）
“Z Trend Lab by GMO” is a marketing service designed to help companies overcome communication challenges by deeply understanding the true feelings, emotions, and values (insights) hidden within Generation Z.
Leveraging our exclusive network of Gen Z influencer members as well as one of Japan’s largest research panels(※2), we provide multifaceted support for marketing activities specifically tailored to younger audiences.
■Trend Surveys and Interview Articles by “Z Trend Lab by GMO”
https://www.koukoku.jp/truemarketing/genzlab/
（※2）The survey monitors are linked with the “JAPAN Cloud Panel,” one of the largest research panels in Japan with 34.26 million members as of August 2025, provided by GMO Research & AI, Inc., a GMO Internet Group company engaged in internet research services.
About GMO NIKKO
（URL：https://www.koukoku.jp/）
GMO NIKKO Inc. is a comprehensive marketing support company that creates new value through digital innovation. Since its founding in 1992, it has been committed to solving client challenges by leveraging deep expertise in marketing. Today, as a consolidated company of GMO Internet, Inc.—a leader in internet infrastructure and advertising/media businesses—GMO NIKKO provides proprietary services that harness cutting-edge technologies including AI, supporting advertisers with brand-building and loyalty, and maximizing monetization for media companies. Guided by the vision “Surprising Partner.”, GMO NIKKO strives to be an irreplaceable partner that always exceeds client expectations.
