What do teens want to watch? They want content based on friendships and platonic relationships, and they are not interested in watching sexual content (there’s already plenty of porn available online!). Additionally, they have said “no” to TV shows and movies about rich people. The number of fans of the fantasy genre is also increasing. But please, for the love of God, Hollywood should improve how it integrates social media into storylines. These are some of the key findings from a study conducted by researchers at the University of California. Titled “Teens & Screens,” the study involved over 1,500 participants aged 10 to 24.
The study reveals that 62.4% of respondents believed that sexual content does not need to be used as a plot device. Meanwhile, 63.5% of participants expressed a preference for watching projects (both movies and TV shows) based on friendships and platonic relationships. Last year, only 51.5% of those surveyed wanted to see more content about platonic relationships, and 47.5% did not want to watch shows or movies where sex was a major plot point. This year, those numbers have increased significantly.
Additionally, 46% of respondents indicated that they would be interested in seeing more portrayals of characters who lack romantic or sexual attraction, a substantial increase from 39% last year. For the third consecutive year, teens have expressed a preference for “hopeful, uplifting content with people beating the odds” over other options, including “Action and/or fight scenes,” “Superheroes,” “People with lives like my own,” “Crime/true crime,” and more.
Another major finding of the study is the rising popularity of the fantasy genre. Nearly 36.2% of respondents revealed that they enjoyed content from this genre and would prefer it over personal issues (24.2%), real-life issues (13.9%), rich and famous people (7.2%), and other genres (3.3%).
When it came to their favorite types of entertainment, 39.2% of teens chose video games as their preferred source, while 33.3% opted for movies or TV shows. Additionally, 27.5% of participants said they preferred scrolling on social media platforms.
“We’re trying to shift the culture by giving storytellers better information,” said Yalda T. Uhls, the chief executive of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, which is based at U.C.L.A. “The problem is often that Hollywood storytellers use their own memories of their teenage years or what their children in Los Angeles are doing, and that does not remotely represent what young people really want.” However, she did not ignore the odds of respondents changing their preferences, but she thinks that is not common.
Furthermore, the study also disclosed that adolescents love live-action (58%) more compared to animated projects (42%).
What do these findings mean for Hollywood?
The increasing preference for platonic relationships and a decline in interest in sexual content may lead to a shift in narrative focus. We can expect to see more stories centered around friendships, family bonds, and personal growth, rather than solely romantic or sexual relationships. The preference for hopeful and uplifting narratives suggests that there is a market for content that provides a sense of optimism and inspiration. Moreover, the growing prominence of the fantasy genre indicates that there is a demand for escapist and imaginative content. Stay tuned for more updates.