Overview
- UCLA’s Center for Scholars & Storytellers released the Teens & Screens 2025 report based on a weighted survey of 1,500 Americans ages 10–24 conducted Aug. 13–25.
- Young audiences say they still engage with traditional media: 57% believe they watch more movies and TV than older generations think, and 53% discuss them with friends versus 18.6% for social media content.
- Preferences shifted toward relatability and platonic bonds, with 32.7% favoring relatable stories, 59.7% wanting friendship-centered narratives, 60.9% preferring romance framed as friendship, and 48.4% saying there is too much sex onscreen.
- Viewing and discovery are increasingly mobile and social, with about 78% at least sometimes watching TV and movies on YouTube or TikTok and nearly half mostly using phones, tablets or laptops, with short-form feeds a key recommendation source.
- Animation interest rose to 48.5% from 42% last year, and favorites such as Stranger Things, Wednesday, SpongeBob SquarePants and Spider-Man reflect a tilt toward grounded, friendship-driven titles as industry leaders convene at UCLA’s summit.