A recent study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has revealed that Generation Z, individuals aged between 13 and 24, are less interested in viewing sexual content in television shows and movies.
Instead, they express a preference for content that focuses on non-romantic friendships and platonic relationships.
"Adolescents are expressing a desire for less sexual content in the media they consume, but the underlying message of the survey is that they want to see a broader range of relationships depicted," explained Yalda T. Uhls, the study's co-author and an adjunct professor in UCLA's psychology department.
The study found that 44.3% of respondents believe that romance is overused in media. Furthermore, 39% expressed a desire to see more characters who are asexual or aromantic, reflecting some of the identities encompassed within the LGBTQIA+ acronym. Nearly half of the respondents, 47.5%, felt that sexual content is unnecessary for most movie and television plots. Over half, 51.5%, expressed a desire for more content centered on friendships and platonic relationships.
One young respondent from Georgia expressed his dissatisfaction with the tendency of male and female characters to fall in love on screen. He told Variety that he would like to see less emphasis on sex and romance in media.
"Every time a male and female character share the screen, studios seem compelled to make them fall in love. There's a significant lack of platonic relationships in American cinema," he said.
The survey's findings were published in the Teens and Screens report. The report noted that "Generation Z's values and desires delve deeper than society has traditionally explored. As shown in this report, they are weary of stereotypical, heteronormative storytelling that glorifies romantic and/or sexual relationships, particularly toxic ones. They are seeking more portrayals of friendship, a fundamental aspect of adolescence and social well-being."
The survey also found that 56% of respondents have observed an increasing number of people in their social circles consciously choosing to remain single, viewing it not as a problem to be solved but as a satisfactory outcome in itself.
It is well-documented that interest in sexual activity among younger generations has been on the decline for several years. This trend is reflected in headlines about the decreasing rates of sexual intimacy among young Americans and falling birth rates. Given the growing recognition of the importance of representation in media, it is not surprising that a generation less interested in sex also wants to see less sexual content in the entertainment provided to them.
What sets the current situation apart from the past is the increased willingness of entertainment producers to listen to younger generations and those demanding more representation of people like themselves. Rather than adhering to traditional storytelling with deep cultural roots, studios are now creating content they believe will resonate with younger audiences. Consequently, we can anticipate seeing less sexual and romantic content and more emphasis on friendships.
In recent years, there has been a shift away from portraying heterosexual romance towards featuring more homosexual relationships. The current trend appears to be moving towards eliminating the concept of love and lasting intimate partnerships altogether. This shift is driven by the belief that on-screen relationships do not accurately reflect real-life experiences.
In contrast to previous generations, who often modeled themselves after characters or archetypes, today's young people want entertainment to reflect their own experiences. The idea that on-screen content should be aspirational is being replaced by the expectation that it should authentically represent the audience's experiences.
The survey aimed to "ask adolescents across the United States what topics they wish to see in the content they watch, and which media spaces feel more authentic to them (and why)." Conducted in August 2023, the survey included 1,500 respondents aged between 10 and 24. Only those aged 13 and over were asked about sexual content in media.
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