article

How YouTube is Gen Z’s TV—in 3 Stats

In Gen Z’s eyes, YouTube is no different than TV, replacing cable just like streaming services have…

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

Feb 17 2026
North America

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The majority of Gen Z streams YouTube on the biggest screen in the house
YouTube has “shows” they love, so many feel watching YouTube is no different than watching traditional television
A notable share say they’d rather watch TV content on YouTube than subscription streaming platforms

It’s no secret that Gen Z lives on YouTube. YPulse’s YouTube Effect trend report makes that clear: 99% of 13-17-year-olds and 97% of 18-24-year-olds watch videos on YouTube in some capacity, with 48% and 34% respectively saying they watch daily. And while it might not feel as “new” as TikTok—if TikTok can even be called new anymore—YouTube is the platform many young people grew up on and remains one of the top platforms embedded in their daily routines. But while their love of YouTube hasn’t changed over the years, what’s seemingly changing is how they’re watching YouTube content. Over the...