By A new UCLA study of teens and young adults ages 13-24 has found a significant portion of them, as much as 47.5%, think physical intimacy and romance are too prominent in both movies and TV shows.
44.3% cite romance in media as being ‘overused’, 51.5% want to see more content focused on friendships and platonic relationships, and 39% say they want to see more aromantic and/or asexual characters on screen.
The numbers are part of the Teens & Screens annual report conducted by The Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA which surveyed 1500 young people ages 10-24. Respondents reportedly reflected the U.S. Census in terms of race and gender.
Yalda T. Uhls, a co-author of the study and an adjunct professor in UCLA’s psychology department, says the survey is really saying that the age group wants to see: “the full spectrum of relationships… different kinds of relationships reflected in the media they watch”.
In terms of adolescents’ most disliked stereotypes, a ‘relationship being necessary to be happy’ is seen as the worst of these followed by male and female leads always having to end up together romantically, whilst love triangles came in third.
Those surveyed also strongly preferred binge-watching shows (50.5%) as opposed to weekly drops of episodes (25.5%). The majority also preferred original content (56%) over remakes, franchises or based on existing IP titles like a book or comic.
Source: Deadline
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