Video content consumption has become an everyday part of our lives. No matter the age, no matter the background, we all spend time watching some form of video content. It’s one of the things that almost all people have in common.
Those who are part of the younger generation usually prefer watching shows on Netflix and clips on TikTok, while other older generations still stick to watching classic television. This is not by coincidence; companies intentionally create different types of content and improve accessibility to cater to specific demographics.
We choose our platforms depending on our personal interests and video needs. Most people consume video content on multiple platforms and mediums, but others may prefer spending their time solely on their favorite streaming site or television program.
Here, we dive into how generational video consumption works to understand how different kinds of people choose to satisfy their video needs. Through this, we learn what types of content and mediums people prefer, and the strategies that companies, creators, and production teams use to maximize video content consumption for their target demographic.
Video Content Consumption among Different Generations
Let us take a look at some of the most popular mediums, platforms, and video types to see what people like to gravitate towards and why they do.
Youtube – Video Hosting Platforms
We start off with Youtube, the largest video hosting platform and one of the most downloaded apps ever. Youtube is free to use, anyone can create an account and start uploading clips. This is great for variety since there is no limitation on creativity, people can start a Youtube channel about anything they want.
In terms of generational video consumption, people ranging from ages 18-25 hold the largest visitor count on the platform. This is because of how easy it is to access Youtube from any device and the fact that most of the later generations grew up with it. Youtube has become the people’s preferred source of entertainment and knowledge over mediums like television.
Even though the youth dominates Youtube’s total viewership, you might be surprised to find out that baby boomers are becoming the fastest growing age group on Youtube mobile. People as old as our grandparents are getting into Youtube as their alternative form of entertainment, but also as an accessible source of important information like news around the world.
Youtube is meant for people of all ages, it takes a simple search to find the right kind of content for your video needs
Netflix – Streaming Services
Streaming services like Netflix have seen a huge boost in popularity in recent decades. They have a collection of exclusive shows that cater to a more mature audience. In America, Netflix’s demographic is predominantly young adults aged 18-35 but the median range is said to be between 35-44 years old.
Netflix has a mainly adult viewership, people from Gen Z to Gen X all enjoy streaming their favorite shows on the platform. But since it also acquires and licenses other titles, they have a vast array of genres to pick from. Netflix has a high video content consumption because it advertises its series by promoting and releasing trailers. These trailers, sneak peeks, and previews are what get people interested. Each show, documentary, or movie with its unique story and specific genre, can be a generational video that has the potential to draw in audiences from any age group.
Movies and Cinema
Back in the day, even before home television, movies were the only source of video content consumption, and even now, people still go to the cinema to enjoy films. Movies are timeless for every generational video consumer, being able to show captivating storytelling and production on the big screen.
Now in our high-tech and modern world, people are able to enjoy their favorite films from the comfort of their own homes or from anywhere else they want. So what does that leave public theatres and movie houses? Unfortunately, many people have stopped going out to theatres, but because of the rise of online streaming. The reality is that the pandemic has had a great impact on everyone including the movie industry.
Before the pandemic hit it was reported that the two majority groups of moviegoers were aged between 25-39 and people over 60. This shows that film is still loved by many people of different generations and still has great potential to satisfy people’s video needs. What happens to the future of movies and cinema depends on how the current generation can bring it back into popularity with the current situation.
Television
Home television has been around since 1927 and still remains one of the most used mediums of video content consumption. Most of our grandparents grew up with TVs in their homes, and even now, we probably have our own TV we watch every day.
The generational video consumption of television has not fallen off and has only grown since it began. Though it is true that younger people prefer to use the internet and online devices. In some places where smartphones are not widely used, watching the news on TV is the only way people can get entertainment and information.
Many people stick with television for their video needs because it is a trusted medium, produced and reviewed for national broadcast. This is the reason why people from all generations will continue to buy and use TVs despite the growth of other technologies.
Social Media Content
Social media is one of the biggest platforms for video content consumption. From social to big business brands, to the entertainment and music industry, everyone utilizes the power and reach of social media to get their message across.
The generational video consumption of social media is vast. Everybody you know is probably already on Facebook, which has users who are mostly 25-34 years old. Other platforms like Tiktok however have more than 50% of their users from ages 10-29 years old.
Generally speaking, videos on social media are shared and viewed mostly by younger generations who are accustomed to navigating the internet and want to connect to others online.
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In many ways, it doesn’t really matter how old you are or which generation you’re from. We are free to choose the platform to watch on. What matters is the quality of the content itself. Every good show, clip, and video needs to have excellent production or a convincing message to reach its audience.
