By Joe Reed, Associate Director of Research
The Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA recently released its annual Teens & Screens report, their latest exploration of how adolescents and young adults (spanning from age 10 all the way to 24) perceive and engage with popular media. While the research is ostensibly about film, television, and digital platforms, its findings illuminate tons of broader truths relevant to anyone in arts and culture, attractions, and entertainment marketing.
Realism on the Rise
This year’s report revealed a jarring tonal shift in taste. Realistic and relatable stories topped the list of preferred genres among tweens, teens and young adults, rising nine points from last year. That finding is furthered by this year’s top three topics of primary interest: people with lives like mine, hopeful stories of people beating the odds, and friendship and social groups.
Fantasy, last year’s leading genre, dropped eleven points to fall to second place. But even so, the Netflix hit Stranger Things was named respondents’ most popular show, showing how a blend of real-world, grounded emotion with supernatural, fantastical elements can make for a perfect merger to capture today’s young audiences.
These preferences show an appetite for experiences that feel human and authentic. In 2025 and 2026, experiences and content that reflect realistic struggles, conflicts and triumphs may resonate more deeply than pure escapism for younger audiences. Time will tell.
Connection Is the Common Thread
Across every medium, one throughline is clear: Young audiences use media to connect. The study found that 53%of adolescents discuss TV and movies, more than social media content, with friends. And the demise of movie-going? Greatly exaggerated. Seeing a new movie in theaters ranked as the most desirable weekend activity(if money and logistics weren’t an issue).
That communal instinct translates directly to the live space. Theaters, attractions, and arenas already function as social environments, but there is an opportunity to deepen connections with and between audiences.
Friendship Takes Center Stage
The study reiterated a finding from last year: that nearly 60% of young respondents want more stories centered on friendship rather than romance, with 55% specifically wanting different-gender friendships that stay friendships. Themes like healthy conflict resolution and communication ranked high among what makes a story appealing.
For the live sector, this suggests an opportunity to highlight the collective, rather than the individual and market experiences, as shared adventures that celebrate friendship, belonging and connection.
Authenticity Rules the Platform Economy
For the second consecutive year, YouTube was named the “most authentic” digital platform, seven points ahead of TikTok. This perception of authenticity (content that feels genuine and unscripted) continues to shape how young audiences define trust and engagement.
This helps provide a playbook for breaking through to these audiences. Whether through behind-the-scenes storytelling, creator collaborations, or community-led content, authenticity is a huge part of what drives connection and, in turn, conversion.
A Growing Audience Means Growing Opportunity
Ultimately, Teens & Screens 2025 paints a portrait of a generation with its own unique storytelling propensities. Younger folks are interested in using media, whether TV, movies, theaters, sports, or live events, to seek meaning, connection, and reflection. For live entertainment and attractions, that’s a great sign. Younger audiences are seeking something real to share.