The Kids Will Have Their Say (Again)

This just in: the reports of theatrical’s demise among young people (10-24 years old) is apparently grossly exaggerated, at least according to UCLA’s Center for Scholars + Storytellers. Per their recent research, going to the theaters to see a new movie is their number most “preferred” activity if cost and other logistics are removed, followed by going to a? concert and then a group of at-home activities like gaming, streaming, social media. (Unclear whether parking at the Grove was a considered factor in the methodology).

When factoring in cost and other obstacles, however, 39% of teens selected playing video games as their favorite activity over watching TV or movies (33%) or social media (27.5%).?

This behavioral shift reflects a huge 78% increase in those reporting an interest in content focused on “Fantasy Worlds” in 2024 vs “Personal/Relatable Issue” (down 18% since last year) and? “Real Life Issues Impacting Society (-47%), which is why this year’s report is entitled ‘Reality Bites’ (in homage to my Gen X roots), I suspect.?

Moreover, the report? indicates this audience’s renewed desire entertain themselves (57% this year vs just 34% in 2023) and nearly half (48%) say they ‘talk about tv shows or movies more than they talk about social’, though I imagine a HUGE percentage of these folks talk about movies/tv show ON social media.?

More here:??https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/teens-screens-24

LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-10-24/ucla-report-teenagers-teens-entertainment-habit-movies