Nearly half of Gen Z (47.5%) believe sex is unnecessary for driving plots in film and TV, according to a new study. The research, from UCLA's Teens and Screens, reveals a shift away from X-rated shows like Euphoria and The Idol, with 51.5% of adolescents wanting more content focused on friendships and platonic relationships.
More than 44% of respondents said romance is 'overused' in media, and 39% want to see more aromantic and asexual characters on screen. An example cited is O (Thaddea Graham) in Netflix's Sex Education, an asexual student sex therapist. Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, co-author of the study, said: 'While it’s true that adolescents want less sex on TV and in movies, what the survey is really saying is that they want more and different kinds of relationships reflected in the media they watch.'
The findings align with broader trends: 56% of Gen Z notice more peers choosing to be single, and 44% would rather clean the toilet than go on an online date, according to Harris Insights and Analytics. A 2022 Love Honey study found that a quarter of 18- to 24-year-olds in the US are still virgins.
Actors have also voiced discomfort with sex scenes. Aidan Turner (Poldark) told Metro.co.uk: 'It was awkward in some moments... directors, I found in my experience, weren’t always great at doing [sex scenes].' Sir Michael Caine, 90, expressed relief, saying: 'Thank God I’m 90 and don’t play lovers anymore.' Penn Badgley asked showrunner Sera Gamble to cut intimate scenes in You, calling it 'easy because of Sera’s response'. However, Phoebe Dynevor praised Bridgerton's sex scenes as empowering because they were 'from the female viewpoint'.
