New research by the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) at University of California, Los Angeles reveals that contrary to popular belief, today’s adolescents remain highly engaged with traditional television and movies and are demanding content that reflects their real‑life friendships and everyday experiences. The "Teens and Screens Report" found that 57% of teens surveyed agreed they watch traditional media more than older generations expect, while only 14.9% disagreed—with teens saying they discuss TV shows and films more often than social‑media content (53% versus 18.6%).
For the second year in a row, going to the movies during the weekend ranked highest among adolescents’ preferred leisure activities when logistics and cost are not barriers. The findings also show that 59.7% of participants want to see content where the central relationships are friendships rather than romances, and 54.9% believe characters of different genders should prioritise friendships instead of turning them into romantic ones. “Teens are telling us loud and clear – they’re ‘over’ forced and unrealistic romantic storylines,” said Alisha Hines, CSS Vice President of Research and Programs. “What they really want is content, characters and friendships that feel real and reflect everyday experiences they can authentically relate to.”
While 48.5% of teens preferred animated content and 51.5% preferred live‑action, the range in preference reflects their platform‑agnostic habits: 78.4% of respondents said they watch TV or movies on YouTube or social platforms at least sometimes, and 9.2% said they never do. “This study flips the script on the myth that Gen Z and Gen Alpha don’t care about TV or movies and challenges some of the biggest assumptions about what they want to see,” said Yalda T. Uhls, CSS Founder and CEO. “Teens aren’t just passively watching traditional media – they’re discussing it with their friends even more than social‑media content. From this report, we’re also seeing that relatable stories are the currency of connection for this generation and that these narratives are what truly matter to adolescents today.”
The study was based on 1,500 adolescents aged 10‑24 and conducted during June–July 2025, reflecting U.S. Census demographic distribution, and underscores the importance for media companies and advertisers to rethink assumptions about younger viewers and invest in storytelling rooted in friendship, authenticity and real‑world connection.
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