UCLA report shows technology reshaping youth storytelling

A report titled ‘Teens and Screens 2026’ from the Center for Scientists and Storytellers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reveals how Generations Alpha and Z are transforming media consumption. Based on a five-year study of over 1,500 Americans aged 10 to 24, the findings indicate that short-form content, such as 30-second videos, is now viewed with the same value as feature-length films.

YouTube is the most popular platform for storytelling, cited by 72.9% of respondents, while TikTok leads social media platforms at 64.2%. Other significant media include TV series, films, and video games. Despite the digital shift, going to the cinema remains the preferred weekend activity for the third consecutive year.

The study also highlights a demand for greater representation, with 55% of respondents expressing a desire to see more neurodivergent characters on screen, a figure that is even higher among LGBTQIA+ youth. These trends align with European data, where TikTok is a major discovery tool for films and cinema audiences are increasingly younger.