Think Gen Z is glued to their phones for everything? Not quite. According to a recent survey of over 1,000 teens ages 13 to 19, screen size matters when it comes to watching content. Simply put, the longer the content, the larger the screen; the shorter the content, the more likely they are to reach for their phones.

At the end of the day, phones dominate teen viewing habits. Forty-four percent of teens say they are more likely to watch content on their phone, compared to 24% on a television and 21% on a laptop. However, the length of the content strongly influences screen choice.

More than half of teens prefer to watch full-length movies that are 90 minutes or longer on a television, and 40% choose television screens to watch full-length TV shows that are 40-60 minutes long. When it comes to shorter 20-30 minute episodes, teens are pretty evenly divided between watching on their phones (34%) or on TV screens (29%).

For short-form content, teens are decisively Team Phone, with the majority using their phones to watch videos lasting anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.

Gender differences also influence screen preferences. More females than males use their phones for short-form content while also showing a stronger preference for watching movies on a television.

If teens could only choose to watch one format for the rest of their lives, short-form videos are the favorite. TikToks, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts edge out TV shows, with 37 percent of teens preferring them slightly over traditional television (35%). The exception is female teens—41 percent prefer TV shows, compared to 28 percent of males.

As for where they go for content, TikTok continues its reign as teens’ favorite platform for video consumption, with 50% of teens saying it’s their go-to. YouTube follows closely at 43%. Traditional streaming platforms like Netflix and social media platforms with short-form video content like Instagram also maintain a strong foothold, with 34% and 32% of teens choosing them, respectively.

Teens are cost-conscious. Sixty-five percent prefer free content with commercials rather than paying for an ad-free experience. Breaking it down by gender, more females opt for free content (70% vs 58%), while more males are willing to pay for ad-free streaming.

Some teens do access paid services, often on a shared family account. Over half (56%) of Netflix users stream ad-free. Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube are more commonly used with commercials.

Teens are curious about AI-generated content but also skeptical. Forty-three percent express interest in watching AI-generated movies or TV shows. However, 63% think AI art doesn't count as “real” art and 67% say AI images don't look “quite right.” Additionally, 56% think that AI images pirate the work of human artists.

Younger teens show more interest in watching a show or movie made with AI than older teens, which may suggest a shift in attitudes as AI technology becomes more common.

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