What Young People Are Reading, Watching and Listening to Right Now

We recently launched Group Chat, a curated group of curious Gen Zers from across the country who are fueling our insights and helping us get to know their generation even better. (If you’re interested in applying, learn more here!)

You can learn a lot about a person — and the times they’re living in — by what media they choose to consume. So, two days after an election during which all eyes were on Gen Z, we asked 15 Group Chat members, aged 18 to 27, to share what they were reading, watching and listening to that week.

In response to our open-ended question, only a small fraction of the media that Group Chat mentioned consuming throughout the week was related to the election. Instead, Group Chat members shared a mix of timely media and throwbacks, leaning heavily into entertainment that was nostalgic, either for their childhoods or an era that they weren’t even alive for.

Reading New Stuff

The Atlantic recently reported on students showing up to university without ever having read an entire book, but Group Chat, it seemed, loves a novel. Sally Rooney’s latest book, “Intermezzo,” and the “Fourth Wing” series by Rebecca Yarros made the top of the list, though members shared they were reading a diverse selection of fiction, non-fiction and memoirs.

Our members also read The New York Times, New York Magazine and USA Today for news, and subscribed to newsletters including Nate Silver’s Silver Bulletin, User Mag by Taylor Lorenz, Laurel Pantin’s Earl Earl, Culture Study by Anne Helen Petersen and Internal Exile by Rob Horning. “I love reading independent voices on Substack,” said Jenny D.

Group Chat member Isaac C. shared that he’s reading Reddit posts about video game modding — alteration of a game by fans — to learn how to do it himself.

Watching Old Stuff

“At a time like this, I like to stick to my comfort shows and movies from my childhood,” said Olivia F. Many were rewatching “Gossip Girl” and “Mad Men.” “Virtually every aspect of the show is immaculate. I picked up smoking again,” said Aaron A. about the latter.

Hasan Piker’s election coverage, ContraPoints, Mike’s Mic, Brittany Broski and Larray have kept Group Chat tuned into YouTube. “I mostly watch a lot of makeup and day in the life videos as a form of comfort,” said Meagan F, “to combat stress from school but also what happens in global news.”

Group Chat also shared that they were watching TikToks, Reels and confessed to “doomscrolling” — obsessively scrolling through their feeds.

Listening To Pods

A sign of the times, Group Chat members told us about podcasts they were listening to first, music second. “The Daily,” from The New York Times, was the most-listened to, perhaps surprising for a generation allegedly eschewing legacy media, and certainly in the wake of election 2024 podcast discourse. “Today, Explained,” “Pitchfork Economics,” “Up First” from NPR, “Pod Save America,” “My Favorite Murder,” “Pardon My Take,” “Gals on the Go” and “Anything Goes” by Emma Chamberlain were also named.

Music that did make the cut? Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Tyler the Creator of course, but also artists like SahBabii, Tems and A.G. Cook. Many members said their music choices were inspired by upcoming concerts or moments in culture. Aaron A. said, “I’m listening to early Bruce Springsteen because there’s that new movie coming out and I’m curious why boomers love him.”

Our main takeaway? The theme across the board seemed to be escapism, with Group Chat members reaching for content that provides them with comfort, joy and inspiration.