Young audiences are finding valuable stories across different forms of entertainment, according to the 2026 Teens and Screens report. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, examined the media habits of more than 1,500 Americans aged 10 to 24. Their findings cover both viewing preferences and the experiences young people want represented.
YouTube was the leading choice for storytelling, selected by 72.9% of respondents. Almost four in five believed that short videos could also tell stories, while television, films and video games remained popular. For the third consecutive year, going to the cinema was their favourite weekend activity.
Respondents wanted more hopeful stories, friendships and characters whose lives resembled their own. In addition, 55% wanted more neurodivergent characters: people whose brains work differently from what is considered typical, including autistic people. However, only 22.7% felt that existing portrayals usually reflected real life accurately.
Feelings about artificial intelligence, or AI, were mixed, although curiosity was stronger than worry overall. Some respondents described themselves as fascinated or excited, while others felt scared or expected a disastrous future. The youngest participants, aged 10 to 13, expressed the most positive views.
