Gen Z and Gen Alpha prefer YouTube, want more neurodivergent characters, UCLA study finds

2026 Teens and Screens report reveals young people are fascinated by AI and crave authentic representation

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Read Time2 min

A new report from UCLA's Center for Scholars & Storytellers reveals that Gen Z and Gen Alpha are redefining storytelling through platforms like YouTube and TikTok, with 72.9% of young respondents naming YouTube as their favorite medium. The 2026 Teens and Screens report also highlights a strong desire for more neurodivergent characters on screen, with 55% of those surveyed wanting to see such representation, and only 22.7% feeling current portrayals 'ring true to real life.'

The report, which surveyed over 1,500 Americans aged 10 to 24, found that short-form videos are widely accepted as storytelling tools: nearly 4 in 5 respondents said such videos can tell a story, and TikTok scored 64.2% among social media platforms. Traditional media remain strong, with TV shows (70.3%), movies (70.2%), and video games (68.5%) all close behind, and cinema was the favorite weekend activity for the third consecutive year. This aligns with European trends, where 50% of UK cinemagoers are under 35 and 47% of young people discover films through TikTok, according to CineEurope.

A recurring theme is a demand for more relatable stories. Young audiences want to see more neurodivergent characters, with the desire especially strong among LGBTQIA+ youth. They also expressed interest in 'hopeful, uplifting stories with people beating the odds' and 'friendships and social groups.' This mirrors previous report findings that young people prefer less sex on screen and more platonic relationships: 52% said romantic relationships are overemphasized in media compared to real life.

On artificial intelligence, attitudes among young people are mixed but curiosity dominates. The survey found 28.2% felt 'fascinated' by AI and 25.6% 'excited', while 22% felt 'doomed' and 10.1% 'scared'. The youngest cohort, aged 10 to 13, were most positive, with 44.2% finding AI programmes 'fascinating'.

The report notes a post-pandemic recovery in cinema attendance, with blockbusters like 'Backrooms' and 'Obsession', directed by YouTube creators, proving that young audiences crave original stories rooted in internet culture. 'The gatekeepers have changed, and young people themselves are deciding what they want to watch,' said Yalda T. Uhls, founder of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers. Study co-author Stephanie Rivas-Lara added that 'the call for greater neurodivergent and friendship representation is just some examples we found of the broader demand for more diverse and authentic portrayals.'

Analysis

Why This Matters

The findings underscore a generational shift in how stories are consumed and valued, with implications for Hollywood studios, streaming services, and advertisers.
The demand for authentic neurodivergent representation could push casting and writing practices toward greater inclusion.
Young people's fascination with AI, despite industry fears, suggests that AI-assisted storytelling may soon find a receptive audience.

Background

The Teens and Screens report began five years ago as an annual analysis of media habits among Americans aged 10 to 24. Previous editions have documented declining interest in traditional advertising and a growing preference for digital-native creators. The 2026 report is the first to include detailed questions about AI and neurodivergent representation.

What to Watch

Industry response: whether major studios and streamers increase neurodivergent casting and storylines.
AI integration: how entertainment companies balance young curiosity with ethical concerns around deepfakes and job displacement.
Platform evolution: whether YouTube and TikTok double down on long-form content to keep young audiences engaged.

Sources

YouTube, AI and neurodivergent representation: How Gen Z and Gen Alpha are redefining modern storytelling · Euronews

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedYalda T. Uhls said, “The gatekeepers have changed, and young people themselves are deciding what they want to watch.”Euronews: ““The gatekeepers have changed, and young people themselves are deciding what they want to watch and what they want to see more of in the content they choose,” said Yalda T. Uhls”
SupportedStudy co-author Stephanie Rivas-Lara said the call for greater neurodivergent and friendship representation was among examples of a broader demand for diverse, authentic portrayals.Euronews: ““The call for greater neurodivergent and friendship representation is just some examples we found of the broader demand for more diverse and authentic portrayals,” said study co-author Stephanie Rivas-Lara.”
SupportedRespondents wanted “hopeful, uplifting stories with people beating the odds” and “friendships and social groups.”Euronews: “The adolescents and young adults also said they wanted to see more “hopeful, uplifting stories with people beating the odds,” “friendships and social groups,” and “people with lives like mine.””
Partly supportedThe story says 22.7% felt current portrayals of neurodivergence “ring true to real life,” but omits that this was true “most of the time.”Euronews: “Only 22.7% of respondents felt that current media portrayals of neurodivergence “ring true to real life” most of the time.”
Partly supportedThe story attributes the figure that 50% of UK cinemagoers are under 35 to CineEurope.Euronews: “This mirrors recent findings across Europe, with 50% of cinemagoers in the UK under 35-years-old according to the Cinema Advertising Association. Meanwhile, CineEurope reports that 47% of young people now discover films through TikTok.”
Partly supportedThe story says 52% believed romantic relationships are overemphasized in media compared with real life.Euronews: “with 52% saying they believe that romantic relationships in media are more central to the lives of fictional characters than they are in real life.”
SupportedThe report covered the media habits of more than 1,500 Americans aged 10 to 24.Euronews: “the report began five years ago as a way to analyse the media habits of more than 1,500 Americans aged 10-24.”
SupportedThe headline says Gen Z and Gen Alpha prefer YouTube, and the story reports that 72.9% chose it as their favourite storytelling medium.Euronews: “The majority of the survey's respondents (72.9%) chose YouTube as their favourite medium for storytelling”
SupportedThe story says 55% of respondents wanted more neurodivergent characters on screen.Euronews: “with 55% of those surveyed wanting to see more neurodivergent characters on screen”
SupportedNearly four in five respondents said short-form videos can tell a story.Euronews: “while nearly 4 in 5 said that short-form videos can tell a story too”
SupportedThe story reports that 28.2% felt fascinated by AI, 25.6% excited, 22% doomed and 10.1% scared.Euronews: “with 28.2% saying they were “fascinated” and 25.6% “excited”. On the other hand, 22% said they felt “doomed” and 10.1% were “scared”.”
Partly supportedThe story attributes the post-pandemic rise in cinema attendance to the report.Euronews: “While cinema attendance massively declined during the pandemic, there's been a steady increase in the years since”