YouTube emerges as top storytelling medium for Gen Z and Gen Alpha

A report by the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) at UCLA reveals that younger generations are redefining storytelling through digital platforms. According to the 2026 Teens and Screens report, which surveyed over 1,500 Americans aged 10-24, 72.9% of respondents identified YouTube as their favorite medium for storytelling.

Short-form video is also gaining significant traction, with nearly 80% of participants stating that brief videos can effectively convey stories. TikTok led social media platforms in this category with a 64.2% score. Traditional formats remain competitive, as TV shows (70.3%), movies (70.2%), and video games (68.5%) followed closely behind.

The study also highlights a demand for increased representation. Approximately 55% of those surveyed expressed a desire to see more neurodivergent characters on screen, a sentiment that was even stronger among LGBTQIA+ youth. Currently, only 22.7% of respondents feel that existing media portrayals of neurodivergence accurately reflect real life.