Two Gen Z Perspectives on Get Real! Relatability on Demand
“When media becomes a source of guidance, it has to reflect real life more authentically.”
Finding: More teens want to see “relatable stories that are like my personal life” (32.7%) than stories about fantasy worlds, real-world issues, or aspirational stories about rich or famous people.
Sahar: The narrative of young people as screen addicts is so prominent that it has taken on a life of its own, and is fueling a common sentiment growing amongst my peers that social media is all-consuming and something they can’t seem to escape. But this narrative is overshadowing the good things that my peers get out of media. I actually think the nearly unlimited amount of media content, and the information-overload it produces, causes us to look to for stories that provide some guidance. This is supported by one of the key findings in Teens & Screens: “Teens want to see themselves”, with 32.7% wanting to see stories that mirror their lives rather than ones about fantasy worlds or rich and famous people. I don’t think this is out of self-obsession or ignorance to other people’s perspectives, but rather an attempt to make sense of all the information we receive. I definitely see this play out in my own life when I unlock my phone and look through multiple platforms for a title that speaks to me and sparks a hope of finding an answer to a question I don’t even know I am asking. Immediate access to so much information can
Finding: TV and movies lead the conversation: 53% of adolescents discuss TV and movies with friends more than social media content, while only 18.6% discuss social media more.
Emilie: I find that talking about TV shows and movies is a much more essential topic than social media. On social media, there is only so much to talk about – as people like to say, a good amount of the content presented is “brain rot.” I find that talking about TV shows and movies is more important because they talk about issues in today's society. For instance, in my own personal experience, the people who I am closest to are the ones who love to talk about these topics because we love to learn through this media about experiences and topics of today, and talking about TV shows and movies has helped me explore struggles that I have dealt with in a more removed way. Talking about TV shows and movies is not just about bringing our awareness to topics, but I think it also brings us more sophistication in my personal experience and helps with the need to socialize and the desire to learn. Overall, I find I just get a lot more out of talking about traditional media than social media.
Finding: 59.7% of adolescents aged 14 to 24 said they “want to see more content where the central relationships are friendships”.
Sahar: Another key finding was that young people want to see less romance and more friendship with 59.7% wanting to see more friendship centered relationships in the content they consume. Prominent romance storylines have been a staple in media. But, as I previously mentioned, when media becomes a source of guidance, it has to reflect real life more authentically. In my experience, most adolescents are focused on navigating complex terrains in their friendships, and trying to establish a lifelong community. This can be especially hard when so much of the content we consume focuses on navigating romantic relationships, and creates inauthentic representations in media. Where a romantic relationship is a somewhat predictable and replicable experience, friendships are unique and very diverse in nature, and usually have so much to teach us about ourselves. Media platforms are where we learn so much about ourselves and the world. A desire for more authentic content that reflects our lives and relationships is a plea for guidance, and for media to be a safer space where we can learn and grow.
Finding: 54.9% of adolescents want to see different-gender characters (e.g. a man and a woman) “prioritize their friendship instead of turning it into a romantic relationship” – more than the 49.0% who want to see more same-gender friendships
Emilie: I have a best friend who is a boy, and I agree with the need to depict more persistent friendships with the opposite gender in media. So many movies convey the message of turning these friendships into romantic relationships, probably often because it’s more convenient to write that way. It might seem easier or more compelling to create a story built on love than to explore the more challenging and often overlooked story of a friendship that simply stays a friendship, especially for different-gender characters. However, this stereotypical portrayal creates romance-centric expectations that limit how men and women can relate to each other. It contributes to a rift in real-life different-gender friendships, making it seem like people of different genders can only date, rather than be close platonic friends. We need connection, so seeing mostly stories that limit us to same-gender friendships holds us back.
Sahar Hussein is a senior at UCLA studying Cognitive Science and an intern for Center for Scholars and Storytellers. She is pursuing postgraduate studies in healthcare and mental health services and passionate about serving the youth in her community.
