With 78% of Aussie students feeling stressed and lonely during exam season, the KitKat team is connecting mates during study breaks - with a new ‘Break with a Study Mate’ Snapchat lens, and IRL ‘Study Break Booth’ at uni campuses across Sydney.
For Gen Z, study culture (especially the study break!) isn’t just about grind - it’s about the human connection. Study breaks spent connecting with mates help students to reset (62%) and feel “less cooked” (39%) proving that sharing a quick break with a mate isn’t slacking or distraction, it’s energising.
It's clear digital connection is now baked into the rhythm of exam life, with 95% of students using social media during study breaks. To help students feel less “I’m cooked” and more “we need to lock in” the KitKat team has partnered with Snapchat to drop the ‘Break with a Study Mate’ Lens.
The Lens is your go-to for sending good vibes, taking a cheeky break, and hyping up your mates during study season. Pick a friend who’s deep in the grind, hit them with the Lens, and boom — you’re both back to the books feeling refreshed. Bonus: you could score a post-exam Contiki Europe trip for two*.
The KitKat team is also bringing the IRL study break vibes to university campuses across Sydney – introducing ‘Study Break Booths’. These soundproof, two-person booths are popping up across selected Sydney university campuses and libraries to help students escape the study hustle, giving them a little oasis to recharge, connect and share a KitKat with a mate.
Where to find the KitKat Study Break Booths:
- UTS from 14 October – 30 October
- UNSW from 4 November – 13 November
- Macquarie University from the 18 November – 21 November
The booths will be open to students between 9-5pm to take a quick break and for the first two days of each can enjoy a free KitKat.**
Time management expert and author, Kate Christie says “Gen Z understand the power of pausing. Skipping breaks leaves 63% of students feeling drained, with over 60% of students stating short pauses help them stay more productive. When students use break time to connect socially, it helps them feel mentally recharged. Whether it’s a walk-and-talk, a shared snack break or a quick laugh with a friend, those moments matter.”
Nestlé Head of Marketing Confectionery, Shannon Wright says ‘For most students, social media isn’t a distraction it’s a tool to stay connected with their mates while using breaks for emotional reset and respite. That’s why we teamed up with Snapchat to make those connections social and intentional with a bespoke KitKat Snapchat lens. The KitKat Study Break Booths at universities will also allow students to connect during micro breaks virtually and face-to-face without interrupting their busy schedules!”
Other key research findings from KitKat ‘Break with a Study Mate’ research:
- Over half (54%) of Aussie students say social media helps them recharge during study breaks and come back better, proving it’s more than a distraction, it’s a mental reset and connection tool.
- With over 60% of students leaning on group chats, study apps, and constant digital check-ins, Gen Z is building a new kind of emotional safety net during exam season.
- 37% of students say checking in about stress and mental health feels natural, showing how Gen Z is normalising emotional transparency in academic spaces.
- 39% of students who use silly filters say they are the perfect short form entertainment when they need a quick mental reset.
- Forget caffeine - Gen Z’s brain food is a snack attack. With over half (53%) of students choosing snacks to fuel their study grind, food isn’t just fuel - it’s comfort, ritual, and motivation.
About the Research
KitKat Break with a Study Mate Research was conducted by Pureprofile with 1,015 Australian student respondents aged 16-25 on behalf of KitKat in September 2025.
Competition Details
*Competition Entry Mechanic
- Using the Snapchat ‘Break with a study mate’ KitKat® Lens, snap a selfie and pick a mate who deserves a study break the most
- Save the photo and upload your photo to the form on the KitKat microsite
- Get creative - tell us in 30 words or less why you and your mate are the perfect pair for a Euro trip for two with Contiki
- Fill out the rest of the form and hit submit!
Competition T&Cs
*Between 13.10.25 – 23.11.25 (AEDT.) Aus. res. aged 18 – 35 at trip commencement. Limit 1 entry/person. Prize: consists of a Contiki Trip for winner and companion on the Contiki European Highlights trip for 14 days, plus return economy flights to London, UK or Paris, France. Prize valued up to $12,946. Travel must be taken by 30.09.2026. Trip must be booked 60 days in advance of travel. Blackout dates & Contiki booking conditions apply. Judging occurs by 26.11.25. Winner notified & published at www.nestle.com.au/en/productnews/winners by 03.12.25. Claim prize by 18.12.25 (AEDT) or new winner chosen. Promoter: Nestlé Australia Ltd 1D Homebush Bay Drive, Rhodes NSW 2138. See URL for prize details and Terms and Conditions.
** Free KitKat samples will only be available during certain sampling windows & dates at each university.
