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Topics: News, Film and TV, Science
Charisa Bossinakis
Topics: News, Film and TV, Science
According to a new study, Gen Z don't want to see romance or sex scenes in movies or TV shows anymore.
The UCLA study showed that 47.5 per cent of teenagers and young adults aged 13-24 believe there's too much emphasis on love in TV and movies.
While 51.5 per cent stated they wanted to see more storylines focused on friendships and platonic relationships.
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Thirty-nine per cent said they wanted to see more asexual relationships represented on screen.
A near majority of those surveyed felt that romance in media is overused (44.3 per cent).
Dr Yalda T. Uhls, founder and director of CSS, co-author of the study, and adjunct professor in UCLA’s psychology department, said that the findings show that Gen Z is craving more diverse relationships depicted in the media.
Right now, the romance is overkill.
“We know that young people are suffering an epidemic of loneliness and they’re seeking modeling in the art they consume. While some storytellers use sex and romance as a shortcut to character connection, it’s important for Hollywood to recognize that adolescents want stories that reflect the full spectrum of relationships,” Uhls said, as per Deadline.
She added that recent studies show that young people are having less sex than their parents did at their age, with many stating they prefer to be single.
Aside from giving the big thumbs down on romance, the study found that this generation is more inclined to binge original content.
Fifty-six said they’d rather watch original movies and TV shows over remakes, franchises or stories based on pre-existing intellectual property.
“Adolescents are looking to media as a ‘third place’ where they can connect and have a sense of belonging — and with frightening headlines about climate change, pandemics and global destabilization, it makes sense they are gravitating towards what’s most familiar in those spaces,” said Rivas-Lara, who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is working towards her master’s in social work from UCLA.
One anonymous 23 year old told ULCA that the media's focus on romance tends to promote having to be in a relationship to secure happiness.
“The main [stereotype] I always see is a person who comes from nothing, falls in love and gets everything they always wanted. I feel sometimes it sets a mindset [for the] younger generation that all they need is a significant other to be happy...," she said.
While another added the 'enemies to lovers, trope is so boring'.
Did you hear that Netflix?