A trending post on Reddit titled “Gen Z Wants Less Sex in Movies, TV: Study” has sparked a lively discussion on the platform. In the original post, user cmaia1503 summarizes findings from a new UCLA study, revealing that young Americans between the ages of 10 and 24 are clamoring for less sexual content in their media. Instead, they yearn for more stories revolving around friendships and platonic relationships.
The study, conducted by UCLA’s Center for Scholars & Storytellers, polled 1,500 young viewers and found a significant majority favoring platonic over romantic content. Specifically, 51 percent expressed a desire to see more friendships depicted on screen, while 47.5 percent noted that sex is often unnecessary for most TV shows and films.
Reactions to the post have been predictably varied, with several users chiming in to share their thoughts. One of the most upvoted comments, from abuelabuela, captures the sentiment perfectly, stating, “I think some people are just tired of hamfisted romance and sex in things. When it’s well done and feels natural, it’s fine.”
This discussion comes at a time when pop culture is visibly shifting. According to an exclusive article in Deadline, the study also indicated that a whopping 56 percent of participants favored original content over franchises and remakes. Additionally, 39 percent expressed particular interest in seeing more aromantic and asexual characters on screen.
Reflecting on the study, Curlingby shared their personal experience, noting, “I think with internet access available at such a young age, it feels like we’ve had sexualized content shoved at us our entire lives. It’s not shocking people would get bored of it and not want to see it anymore.”
Another interesting perspective comes from cherryrotblossom, who captures a widely-shared feeling: “I think we just want less pointless, male gaze-y sex scenes.”
Yet not everyone agrees with the study’s findings. User InviteNecessary1032 adds a final nuance: “I just left that demographic, and I can tell you we don’t want less sex scenes, we want them to mean something or not be like random closeups.”
It’s clear that Gen Z is driving a notable change in media consumption preferences. As the study highlights, they’re seeking content that mirrors their real-world experiences and relationships, with an interest in authenticity and depth. Whether Hollywood will fully embrace this shift remains to be seen, but for now, the voices calling for more meaningful and varied storytelling continue to grow louder.