Adapted from our webinar "AI Through Generational Eyes: Rethinking Student Communication". Watch the full session for more, including how culture shapes students’ views of AI.
The way students search for universities is changing, and Gen Z, Gen Alpha and millennials are each doing it differently. According to EAB (Education Advisory Board), 46% of US high school students now use AI tools to search for a university, up from 26% the year before.
But relying on AI to find you doesn’t mean they trust it. Over half of those same students say they react negatively to content that looks AI-generated, and our 2026 State of Student Recruitment Report found students rank AI among the least-trusted sources when researching universities.
Students want efficiency in information, but humanity in the experience. AI use is now universal, so they don’t judge whether you use it; they judge how your interactions feel. And each generation expects different things from speed, tone and format, from Gen Z and Gen Alpha undergraduates to millennials, who are both postgraduate prospects and parents.
In this guide, we look at why authenticity is key in the age of AI, how each generation thinks and uses technology, which channels universities should prioritize, strategies for succeeding in AEO and GEO visibility, and much more.
AI has taught students to expect speed and efficiency, but an internet flooded with AI-generated media has also made them more demanding about authenticity. Early AI content met little resistance; now students, especially Gen Z and Gen Alpha, are clearly rejecting it.
So what does this mean for universities? Well, in a social media feed full of AI content, the human factor is what makes you stand out.
Overwhelmed by the polished AI content saturating their social media feeds, young people increasingly associate imperfection with honesty. One sign of this is the revival of analog hobbies such as film photography, vinyl and arts and crafts among Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Young people are exhausted with the quick-scroll content and inhuman polish of their online world, and they are searching for real, human connections.
Put human-made visuals first. Gen Z and Gen Alpha prospective students respect human-created content more than AI-generated imagery, even when it isn’t perfect. Keep these points in mind:
Gen Z, Gen Alpha and millennials all approach and think about AI differently due to having formed their cognitive habits during distinctive digital environments. These differences have also affected things like each generation’s attention span, tolerance for waiting and friction, and the need for immediacy and constant feedback.
What these generational differences ultimately mean for universities is that institutions have to adapt to these groups, rather than approach AI the same way for everyone.
Despite not being the target audience for undergraduate studies, millennials are potential postgraduate students. They are also the parents of Gen Alpha, making them key co-decision-makers for the upcoming undergraduate cohort.
Millennials grew up analog and adapted to digital over time, experiencing dial-up internet and studying in libraries in the pre-Google age. Because of this, they have a higher tolerance for cognitive effort and sequential thinking, meaning their thought processes often go from context, to explanation, to decision.
They are also critical thinkers and source-checkers, often looking for trust markers such as evidence, reputation and depth. They’re pragmatic about AI and tolerate it when it’s clearly useful, but they draw a firm line between AI and human interaction: obvious automation and false empathy put them off.
Gen Z grew up with smartphones, social media and instant feedback, so they process information fast, switch focus constantly and have little tolerance for friction. They jump between video, chat, search and AI, and use AI as a daily assistant and search engine.
Despite their fragmented focus, they’ll engage with long-form content if it hooks them early. They reject authoritative tones and are heavily influenced by their peers.
The youngest generation due to enter higher education in 2028, Gen Alpha have never known a world without AI, and at least the oldest members (14-16) don’t separate human from artificial. Many abandon apps out of boredom, leaving them susceptible to dropping out of processes with unnecessary steps.
As they’ve been raised on algorithms, we can expect this generation to see tailored content and real-time rewards as the default, and to be drawn to platforms that let them create and respond to experience-led video. They’re also highly trusting of influencers.
Remember that their millennial parents will be co-decision-makers, so design separate experiences for students and parents.
|
|
Millennials |
Gen Z |
Gen Alpha |
|
Builds trust |
Evidence, reputation, depth, human tone |
Authenticity, genuine recommendations, friendly tone |
Seamless, simple, intuitive experience |
|
Ideal tone |
Evidence-led, professional, transparent |
Conversational, direct, approachable |
Simple, dynamic, interactive |
|
Avoid |
Overly informal, artificial, over-emotional |
Corporate, formal, generic |
Bureaucratic, complex, passive |
|
Best formats |
Comparisons, outcomes, downloadables |
Quick answers, recommendations |
Guided chat, quizzes, assistants, visuals |
|
Channels |
Email, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, calls |
WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, DMs |
Voice, interactive chat, video, gamified |
Yes, though not by abandoning what already works. Younger students trust their peers more than institutions, and AI is changing how emails get read, so universities need to rethink where they build credibility and how they write for the inbox.
Traditional advertising lost credibility because it was so clearly selling, and macro-influencers are going the same way. Micro-influencers are still trusted, as are peer platforms like Reddit, where prospects get firsthand accounts from students.
As the younger generations are highly influenced by their peers, universities should invest in student ambassador programs and user-generated content, as well as work with micro-influencers and build a presence on platforms like Reddit and TikTok.
Most email platforms now have built-in AI summarizing tools, so while emails are still being read, open and click rates are likely to see a decline.
But this doesn’t mean email doesn’t matter. For both Millennial and Gen Z prospective students, email is still an important part of the decision-making process, especially as they get close to making a final choice.
Universities should put the main point and action up front so it survives AI summaries, and don’t judge campaigns on opens and clicks alone.
AI search is reshaping SEO. Answer engine optimization (AEO) is about getting your university to appear directly in the answers AI assistants give, while generative engine optimization (GEO) is about being cited and trusted as a source in AI-generated answers. Google is still the number one search tool, but AI is closing the gap, and your AEO and GEO approach should differ by generation.
We’ve explored how each generation of prospective students (and parents) think, consume content, find information and make judgments of trust. And while it may seem like a lot of work, it doesn’t necessarily need to be. Whether you’re thinking your university might have to overhaul their entire marketing strategy, or you’re simply looking for a quick way to start making effective changes, here’s a clear checklist to get university marketing and recruitment teams on the right track.