MTV examines Millennials’ video consumption
October 15, 2014
MTV has examined video content created and shared by Millennials over the past year – from viral videos to YouTube creator series to Vines – to determine what this content reveals about this generation.
Writing in the Viacom blog, Alison Hillhouse, Vice President of Insights Innovation for MTV, notes that Millennials, or those born between 1981 and 2000, are voracious consumers of online video content — as well as creators and sharers of this content. In Millennials Now, the network uncovered several generational trends, including the key insights below:
Key findings
Millennials have become ‘real-searchers.
Millennials are obsessive investigators, spending a lot of time discerning what’s real versus fake online. Whether scrutinizing a video where someone catches on fire while twerking, analysing the “elevator photo” from Solange and Jay Z’s brawl or trying to determine whether James Franco’s flirtations with a 17-year-old are real or part of a promo, they are highly aware that much of what they are consuming is staged. They seek authenticity where they can find it, especially in the form of YouTube and Vine stars that let them into their real worlds.
Millennials…more like ‘Meta-lennials’.
Whether dissecting their Tinder dating behaviours, talking about what their 20s should be like, analysing the impact of technology on humanity today or having a laugh at the whole ‘Millennial conversation’, they are keen observers of their own behaviour and that of their generation.
Nerd is the new normal.
From participating in online Dr. Who Fandoms to obsessing over random hobbies like vampire stake making to watching hours of PewDiePie gaming videos, Millennials are engaging in what used to be coined ‘nerd’ behaviours and now are just categorised as ‘obsessions’ or ‘passion points’. Nerd culture is no longer niche but fully in the mainstream.
The Methodology
This study was based on qualitative research into video content that is being created and shared, including miscellaneous viral videos, branded content, YouTube stars, Vine stars and remixes.