Gen Zers are skipping the awkward group chat reminders — and the repayments. A study commissioned by payment network Zelle found that 76% of Gen Z consumers surveyed said they weren't fully repaid after covering group costs for trips or events.
The findings come from the Zelle Avoidance Economy Report: The Group Chat Is Lit. Settling Up Is Another Story, published June 30. According to the study, 55% of respondents said the situation had created tension or negatively affected relationships. Nearly half (47%) reported going into debt to cover group expenses.
The study highlights a generational shift in payment etiquette. Older cohorts like Boomers and Gen Xers often split bills upfront or take turns picking up the tab. Gen Z, by contrast, relies heavily on one person paying the entire bill with the unspoken assumption that others will pay them back later via apps like Venmo or Zelle — but that repayment often never materializes.
Denise Leonhard, general manager of Zelle, framed the finding as a social challenge rather than a financial one. “Shared experiences should bring people closer, not create debt, tension or awkward group chat reminders,” she said in a press release. The study suggests that digital payment convenience may be enabling a culture of delayed — and ultimately avoided — settlements.
While the data is striking, the study was commissioned by Zelle, which has a vested interest in promoting its platform as a solution for peer-to-peer payments. The report does not compare Gen Z’s behavior to other generations using the same methodology, leaving open the question of whether the trend reflects broader cultural shifts or is unique to the cohort.