For Gen Z, viral videos are the new primetime

Gen Z isn’t just watching creators—they’re choosing them over traditional TV and movies.

That’s the big takeaway from Deloitte’s 19th annual Digital Media Trends survey. The report finds that 56% of Gen Z and 43% of millennials find social media content more relevant than traditional entertainment options, and about half feel a stronger personal connection to social media creators than to actors or TV personalities.

The entertainment industry is in a battle for attention, competing for an average of six hours of daily screen time per person. But that number isn’t increasing. In this landscape, tech platforms have the upper hand over traditional studios and streamers, with online creators catering to every niche imaginable.

And younger consumers don’t just watch creators—they trust them. A majority of Gen Z and millennials say creator content is their favorite type of video, and about half feel a stronger bond with influencers than with TV personalities or actors. These parasocial relationships keep fans invested, scrolling, and coming back for more. For younger audiences, viral videos aren’t just entertainment—they’re the new primetime, and creators are today’s stars.

That doesn’t mean the grass never looks greener. A number of creators are making the leap to network TV and streaming platforms, where they can secure lucrative and stable contracts, gain exposure, and grow their audiences. Just as creators are building on their fame in traditional media, celebrities are also establishing themselves as brands and amassing followings on social media.

It’s not just attention that media and entertainment companies are fighting for—it’s also a limited pool of consumer spending. Subscription fatigue is real, and there are no signs of people paying more for streaming services. Instead, many are frustrated by rising prices and the hassle of juggling multiple subscriptions to access the content they want. Nearly half of those surveyed by Deloitte feel they’re overpaying for streaming services, and 41% say the content isn’t worth the cost.

To compete for views in today’s media landscape, traditional studios and streamers need to get with the program. As recently as two decades ago, pay TV was considered just as essential in the household as toilet paper. Fast forward to today, and for younger generations, TV is background noise while they scroll on their phones.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91306572/for-gen-z-viral-videos-are-the-new-primetime?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss

Vytvořeno 3mo | 27. 3. 2025 11:30:05


Chcete-li přidat komentář, přihlaste se

Ostatní příspěvky v této skupině

How to prepare for your digital legacy after death

From family photos in the cloud to email archives and social media accounts, the digital lives of Americans are extensive and growing.

According to recent studies by the password managem

12. 6. 2025 22:40:02 | Fast company - tech
Chime’s cofounder on the company’s IPO: ‘We’re just getting started’

A dozen years after its launch, fintech company Chime rang the bell this morning at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square to ce

12. 6. 2025 20:20:06 | Fast company - tech
What is a fridge cigarette? The viral Diet Coke trend explained

It hits at a certain time in the afternoon, when a familiar craving strikes. You walk to the kitchen. The satisfying sound of a can cracking, the hiss of bubbles. It’s time for a “fridge cigarette

12. 6. 2025 20:20:06 | Fast company - tech
This startup wants AI to help manage software infrastructure, not just write code

Many developers find that AI programming assistants have made writing code easier than ever. But maintaining the infrastructure that actually runs that code remains a challenge, requiring engineer

12. 6. 2025 18:10:21 | Fast company - tech
Apple fumbled its personal AI debut, but the alternative was far worse

Welcome to AI DecodedFast Company’s weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. You can sign up to receive this newsletter every week 

12. 6. 2025 18:10:18 | Fast company - tech
Greenhouse and Clear team up to fight fake job applications flooding tech hiring

Fraudulent job applications have become a serious issue in the era of

12. 6. 2025 13:30:02 | Fast company - tech
‘We’re on the cusp of more widespread adoption’: Laura Shin on Trump, stablecoins, and the global rise of cryptocurrency

With the first family actively engaged in memecoin ventures, speculation about the future of cryptocurrency has never been hotter. Laura Shin, crypto expert and host of the podcast Unchained

12. 6. 2025 11:10:06 | Fast company - tech