Teens Seek More Hopeful Stories and Disability Inclusion

Adolescents increasingly favor relatable, authentic casting and diverse characters over traditional Hollywood stars.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Teens

Gouache-painted illustration of parted theater curtains revealing a glowing, hopeful light, representing authentic teen media preferences. — A new study by the Center for Scholars & Storytellers finds that U.S. teens increasingly prefer authentic, hopeful narratives over celebrity-driven media. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you prefer seeing new, unknown actors in movies rather than familiar, established celebrities?

The Center for Scholars & Storytellers recently released the Teens & Screens Study, revealing that U.S. adolescents prioritize hopeful themes and authentic casting over traditional Hollywood star power. The findings highlight a significant desire among teens for better onscreen representation of disability.

Why it matters

These results provide insight into the evolving media preferences of young audiences who are increasingly moving away from themes of substance use and partying. Understanding these patterns helps parents and educators identify the types of narratives that resonate most with adolescent well-being.

A survey of more than 1,500 adolescents, weighted to reflect U.S. Census demographics, reveals that 55% of all teens desire more characters with disabilities in media. This stands in contrast to 2025 film data, where only 2.8% of speaking or named characters had a disability.

The players

Center for Scholars & Storytellers

An organization focused on understanding how media narratives influence adolescent social and cognitive development.

The details

Teens reported that movies remain their preferred weekend activity when obstacles like cost and logistics are removed. While casting influencers remains a point of interest for 16.8% of respondents, 40% prefer unknown actors who provide a more relatable experience. The study participants also collaborate by reviewing and commenting on proposed scripts to help the Center for Scholars & Storytellers understand the nuances of adolescent storytelling preferences.

In 2025, disability representation in top 100 movies reached 2.8%.
October 22, 2026, marks the Teens & Screens Summit held at UCLA.

Health Landscape

This study aligns with ongoing efforts to understand how media consumption influences the social and emotional identity of teenagers. It marks a significant shift by prioritizing adolescent voices in defining the standards for inclusive and hopeful storytelling in entertainment.

Parents can use these findings to open conversations with teens about why certain stories feel more hopeful or relatable than others. Recognizing the preference for diverse representation can help families select media that feels more inclusive and supportive of adolescent perspectives.

The takeaway

Teens are actively seeking media that features hopeful themes and diverse characters, specifically those representing disabilities. Monitoring the types of stories your teen finds most relatable can provide a useful opening to discuss their social concerns and personal values.