Gen Z is enjoying TV shows that are relatable and reflect real world issues. According to a Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA study, today’s teens want their TV shows to reflect “tense family dynamics or social justice, as opposed to aspirational content about being rich or famous a la Gossip Girl.” While the study shows that having fun and escaping when watching content is teens’ top choice in terms of what they want out of TV, 21% of 13-18-year-olds say they prefer to “see real-life issues that impact society (e.g. systemic injustice, climate change, etc.)” and only 4.4% look for aspirational TV. Hollywood is known for glorifying young adult content, but UCLA’s research shows that “teens want their media to show a world characterized by genuine diversity, relatable characters and heartwarming experiences.” YPulse’s TV and Entertainment report data shows that 80% of Gen Z and Millennials agree: TV shows / movies should make an effort to represent all races. (IndieWire)