The Center for Scholars and Storytellers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) released its annual report titled “Teens and Screens” with findings and information on the preferences of young media consumers in the US.
According to the report, Generation Z (born: 1995-2012) shows a distinct preference for animated films. The percentage of teens who prefer animated content over live-action films has increased from 42% last year to 48.5% this year. It’s not just younger teens. According to Variety, nearly 48% of respondents aged 19-24 also prefer animated films.
Additionally, the type of content respondents choose to watch with their friends is movies, video games, and concerts. For the second year in a row, teens said that going to see a new movie at the theater is their top weekend activity (if cost is no issue).
Relationship with traditional media
Young people still want to go to the movies, share the experience with their friends, and talk about what they’ve seen. As a result, 57% of respondents say they watch traditional media (i.e. movies and TV series) more than older generations assume.
But they watch them elsewhere: Almost 80% of respondents said they sometimes, most of the time, or always watch TV series and movies on YouTube or TikTok instead of TV or cinemas.
60.9% of respondents said they prefer to see romantic relationships portrayed “more about friendship between the couple than about sex.”
48.4% said there is “too much sex and sexual content on TV and in movies.”
It is telling that the top answers to the question “what is your favorite TV series or movie?” include “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “Spider-Man.”
In conclusion, the study shows that young people love going to the cinema, they still watch films and television series, and are willing to discuss the things they watch with their friends.
The study surveyed 1,500 Americans ages 10 to 24 about their media consumption habits and preferences. Responses were collected between August 13 and 25.