Why Gen Z wants to see less romance in their entertainment

Experts tell us that Gen Z is lonelier than previous generations. They’re more socially isolated, which has caused a generational change in their tastes and preferences, and that is presenting some interesting new opportunities for Hollywood. Ryan Faughnder, senior editor of LA times Company Town, joined Lisa McRee on “LA Times Today” with more on why Gen Z wants to see less romance on screen.

The World Health Organization recently declared that loneliness is a global health threat. Faughnder explained that a recent UCLA study examined the link between Gen Z’s loneliness and what they want to see in their entertainment. 

“This study polled about 1,500 U.S. adolescents. And what they found was that U.S. teens and adolescents want to see more friendships and platonic relationships on the screen. They’re not so interested in the sex and the romantic relationships and the coupling up like Ross and Rachel [on “Friends”]. They’re more interested in the friends, part of ‘Friends,'” Faughnder said.  

UTA, a major Hollywood agency, also conducted a similar study. 

“They wanted to take this a step further, and they pulled about 830 people aged 16 to 27. They asked them to rank their favorite on screen duos for TV shows. And 70% of U.S. Gen Zers’ favorite film and TV character duos were friends as opposed to just 17% that were romantic couples,” Faughnder elaborated. 

Shows like Apple TV+’s “Platonic” and an upcoming HBO series about a codependent friend group illustrate how Hollywood is catching onto Gen Z’s tastes. Faughnder also explained how podcasts provide listeners with parasocial relationships that can help ease loneliness. 

“People want to interact with and listen to people who are friends. They want to feel like they’re part of that relationship with these people. When you listen to a podcast of two buddies talking to each other. For example, Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers from Las Culturistas, there’s a connection that feels authentic and you feel like you’re kind of a part of it in a way. You feel like you’re part of an in-group with inside jokes,” he said. 

While Gen Z prefers platonic on screen couples, Faughnder said, there is still a place for romance in films and television. This summer, “It Ends With Us,” which is about a twisted love story, made more than $300 million at the box office. 

Watch the full interview above.

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