Young people are showing a clear preference for stories centered on friendship rather than romance, according to recent surveys. This shift in narrative interest was brought to light by TV executive and game studio founder Sharon Tal Yguado and Tami Bhaumik, Roblox’s VP of civility and partnerships, during their presentation at the D.I.C.E. Summit.

Key Findings

• A significant number of youths, aged 16 to 24, report feelings of loneliness, impacting their media preferences.
• Despite common perceptions that teens are absorbed by superficial trends, recent research suggests they value elements like kindness, safety, and genuine connections.
• In a survey, romance and sex ranked low among themes they wish to see in media, with friendship being far more popular.
• Yguado humorously noted, “I seriously am worried about the population in the future, because these kids do not care about romance.”

Over the years, the UCLA research illustrates that this ’nomance’ trend is gaining traction, revealing that more teens prefer content that emphasizes platonic relationships. Surveys indicate that since 2023, interest in friendship-focused media has surged, showing the changing landscape of youth entertainment preferences.