Young people rethink storytelling: YouTube overtakes cinema, and AI sparks curiosity more than fear
The 2026 'Teens and Screens' report from UCLA's Center for Scholars & Storytellers shows that 72.9% of Americans aged 10–24 name YouTube their favorite storytelling format, 55% want more neurodivergent characters, and young people view AI with more interest than alarm. Cinema, meanwhile, remains the favorite weekend activity for the third year in a row.
Otabek Yusupov