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Why Your Teen Prefers Social Media to Streaming Movies

It’s all about the action

By Sascha Brodsky Sascha Brodsky Senior Tech Reporter Macalester College Columbia University Sascha Brodsky is a freelance journalist based in New York City. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times and many other publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on March 30, 2022 10:29AM EDT Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Streaming Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Young people are turning away from streaming services in favor of social media and gaming, according to a new study. One expert attributes the switch away from streaming to recent "massive improvements" in the gaming industry.Observers say that social media, streaming, and gaming will blur together in the near future. Maskot / Getty Images Young people are ditching the TV remote in favor of online entertainment that's more social and interactive, experts say. Users under 18 are turning away from streaming services in favor of social media and gaming, according to a new study by Deloitte. Nearly half of US respondents say they watch more user-generated content than they did six months ago, and half say they always spend more time watching it than they had planned. "The appeal of social media and games are obvious; it's where their friends are, and it's how they communicate," Mike Metzler, a senior digital marketing manager at Conviva, which monitors streaming media, told Lifewire in an email interview. "You have a whole generation of kids now who don't communicate through text; they use Snapchat. Those same kids view hanging out virtually and playing Fortnite together [the same] as hanging out in person."

Getting Together Online

Deloitte's survey revealed that streaming services struggle to attract and retain subscribers who have become savvier about chasing the content they want and managing the costs they pay. This is especially true with younger generations who have grown up with smartphones, social media, and video games and prefer entertainment experiences that are more social and interactive. "The web and all it offers is no longer a destination or a place we occasionally visit," Kevin Westcott, vice-chair, Deloitte LLP and U.S. technology, media, and telecom leader, said in a news release. "It's become an integral part of our lives, and young generations are particularly adapted to the blurring of real and virtual experiences. For now, streaming video, social media, and gaming are very successful, but changing behaviors are pointing towards the next wave of digital entertainment." TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube are where young people spend their time these days, and each platform is used for different purposes, Metzler said. "TikTok is for short bursts of entertainment that you can pick up and set down, Snapchat is for communicating with friends, Instagram is for documenting their life, and YouTube is for longer-form video content," he added. Aaron Thomas, a Gen Z Content Creator and Social Media Expert at Salience Search Marketing, said in an email interview that there have been recent "massive improvements" in the gaming industry. The release of the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch OLED consoles has reignited interest in gaming, he added. "This has made a huge jump in appealing to young enthusiastic gamers and has also helped the industry gain a huge following from the younger generation," Thomas said. "With games for all ages and different stories or objectives to complete, this will encourage younger people to pick up the pad and get gaming into these magical worlds."

The Future of Entertainment

In the near future, social media, streaming, and gaming are going to blur together, Metzler said. That's why Netflix is buying game studios, WWE is live streaming WrestleMania events on TikTok, and social media is the first place streaming platforms go to promote new streaming content. Maskot / Getty Images A recent report by Conviva found that people who stream more are also more active on social media. Streaming companies are going to continue to invest heavily in social media platforms. "You're also going to see significant investment from streaming platforms building out communities on social media that is not focused on a specific region or TV show but rather on shared interests," Metzler said. "Netflix's Twitter accounts @strongblacklead, @NetflixGeeked, @Uppercut are great examples." In Conviva's Content Discovery report, "watching videos" ranked among the top activities on social media, with nearly three in five social media users saying they watch at least one minute of a video in a typical week and a half saying they watch a full video. "But in 2022, we can expect to see more longer-format videos than we have in the past," Metzler said. "You can see examples of this already happening as TikTok extends their video limit for uploads to 10 minutes, and it's why you see YouTube starting to stream free-ad supported TV shows for the first time." Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How a Supreme Court Ruling Could Radically Change the Internet What Does 'Ratio' Mean on TikTok? TikTok vs. YouTube: Which One Is Right for You? Gaming Culture is Taking Over: What Parents Can Do How to Use TikTok So You Want to Stream Minecraft How to Make Money as an Instagram Influencer What Is Social Media? The Pros and Cons of Social Media Want More Twitch Followers? Try These 7 Pro Strategies Right Now What Is Streaming Video and Media? What Is Social Networking? Is Myspace Dead or Does It Still Exist? Twitch: Everything You Need to Know What Does 'Bae' Mean? HBO Max: What It Is and How to Watch It Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies