Wattpad Reader Survey (Wakefield):

A recent reader survey conducted by Wakefield Research for Wattpad reveals intriguing insights into the preferences and perspectives of readers across generations:

• 90% of readers believe that storytelling technologies will shape the future of reading.

• 92% emphasize the importance of human involvement in writing and producing books.

• Gen Z and Millennials (65% and 71%, respectively) show a higher inclination towards webnovels, e-books, and webcomics compared to Gen X and Boomers.

• 61% of Gen Z and 70% of Millennials appreciate these digital formats for providing access to diverse content, including LGBTQ+ and minority-focused material.

• Gen Z (70%) and Millennials (82%) prioritize diversity when selecting books, movies, or entertainment, in contrast to 57% of Gen X and 60% of Boomers.

• The top genres for Gen Z readers are romance, fantasy & sci-fi, and horror, while Boomers prefer history, biography, and mystery.

• Gen Z is more likely to seek out LGBTQ+ fiction, with 29% reading such stories for fun, compared to 5% of Boomers.

• 80% of respondents seeking new books prefer recommendations from individuals, while only 20% opt for AI or algorithmic suggestions.

• BookTok and BookTube are popular platforms for Gen Z (72%) and Millennials (68%) to find book suggestions, while Gen X (64%) and Boomers (70%) rely more on friends and family.

• Online reading communities and platforms like Wattpad and GoodReads are crucial for 38% of Gen Z and 48% of Millennials for book recommendations.

Wattpad Author Survey:

An internal Wattpad survey among 452 authors provides insights into the usage and concerns related to AI in the creative process:

• 79% of writers have not yet utilized AI in their creative process.

• 43% express concerns that AI could limit monetization and publishing opportunities.

• 58% acknowledge AI's potential to support editing, while 45% see its use in creating cover art.

• 54% believe AI might jeopardize inclusive storytelling elements like character authenticity and diversity.

• 23% worry about AI perpetuating systemic biases by undermining sensitivity reading.

Diverse Wattpad Stories and Voices:

Wattpad showcases a range of stories, including popular works like Katarina E. Tonks’ Death is My BFF, Mike Booth’s HAWK, Philline Harms’ Love and Other Wicked Things, Deanna Faison’s The Feeling Checklist, Sondi Warner’s Lead Me Astray, Nandi Taylor’s Given, Claudia Tan’s Perfect Addiction, and Loridee De Villa’s How to Be The Best Third Wheel.

Survey Methodology:

• The reader survey included 1,000 US adults aged 18+ with an oversampling of 100 additional Gen-Z respondents, conducted between October 10th and October 17th, 2023.

• The author survey comprised 452 current Wattpad authors in October 2023.

About Wattpad:

Wattpad is a leading web novel and storytelling community, home to 90 million people monthly. Wattpad, based in Toronto, Canada, aims to entertain and connect the world through stories.