Teens Favor Friendship Over Romance in Media, UCLA Study Reveals

A new report shows a shift in young audiences' preferences towards platonic relationships and away from sexual content in films and TV.

The UCLA 'Teens and Screens' report surveyed 1,500 individuals aged 10 to 24, highlighting a growing disinterest in sexual content.
63.5% of respondents prefer stories about friendship, a significant increase from 51.5% the previous year.
62.4% believe sexual content is unnecessary for plot development, up from 47.5% last year.
Fantasy genres and uplifting stories are favored, with 36.2% preferring fantasy settings over narratives about the rich and famous.
YouTube is seen as the most authentic social media platform by teens, with Twitter rated the lowest in authenticity.