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Gen Z’s Nights with Friends—Europe vs. America

Gen Z is changing the night-out playbook, but Europeans and Americans don’t always play by the same rules…

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

Sep 9 2026
North America, Western Europe

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Gen Z in both Europe and America are redefining what a night with friends looks like
Both sides of the Atlantic share a love of video games and movies for a fun night with friends
But European Gen Z is more likely to embrace a traditional night out—from drinking to clubbing—than their American peers

With headlines like “‘Nobody’s going out!’ Why is Britain’s nightlife in such decline – and can anything save it?,” it’s not hard to see where the perception of Gen Z as homebodies comes from. But YPulse knows this couldn’t be further from the truth. YPulse’s Friendship and Community data shows much like their American peers, European Gen Z hasn’t stopped socializing; they’ve simply changed what socializing looks like. But there are still some notable differences in what they consider a fun night out on different sides of the pond. For brands, understanding where and how Gen Z has fun is...