Hollywood’s long-standing obsession with youth is increasingly out of step with audience realities, and the rise of artificial intelligence risks deepening that divide, according to a new study by U.S.-based advocacy group AARP.
The research finds that the entertainment industry’s preference for younger characters and storylines — a bias that has shaped casting and commissioning decisions for decades — is now being reinforced by algorithms, AI-assisted development tools and data-driven greenlighting models.
These systems, designed to reduce financial risk and maximise short-term engagement, often amplify content patterns that favour youth while sidelining stories featuring older characters.
Hollywood’s belief that “youth sells” has long guided decision-making, but AARP says that assumption is increasingly at odds with demographic and viewing trends.
As populations age across major markets, the study suggests that studios and streaming platforms may be misreading audience demand by relying too heavily on historical performance data and engagement metrics skewed toward younger online users.
According to the report, recommendation engines and predictive analytics used by major platforms tend to prioritise youth-centred content because it generates higher initial clicks or social engagement. While effective in driving short-term visibility, this approach can marginalise narratives with broader or more mature appeal, even when such stories perform strongly over time and resonate across generations.
The findings echo earlier AARP research showing that audiences over 50 believe film and television play a powerful role in shaping perceptions of ageing. Content featuring older characters, the group found, is often seen as more relatable by viewers of all ages, challenging the industry’s narrow focus on youth appeal.
The study also points to a feedback loop created by AI tools trained on decades of industry data that already favoured younger talent and themes. By learning from those patterns, automated systems risk replicating and entrenching existing biases, researchers said. Executives interviewed for the study noted that scripts and projects are increasingly scored or ranked using engagement signals dominated by younger demographics, pushing creators toward safer, youth-oriented formats.
AARP warns that this approach could prove a commercial blind spot. Older viewers represent a growing share of global entertainment spending, from cinema tickets to streaming subscriptions, and are increasingly underserved by mainstream content strategies. The organisation urged studios and technology providers to reassess how data sets are built, diversify creative decision-making processes and introduce safeguards to ensure algorithms reflect the full range of audience interests.
While the study focuses on Hollywood, its implications extend beyond Western markets. In the Arab world, where the population remains among the youngest globally, the findings highlight a different but related challenge.
Youth-driven storytelling dominates regional screens, but as audiences mature and media consumption habits diversify, overreliance on algorithms that prioritise age-based assumptions could limit creative growth.
For a region investing heavily in film, television and streaming, balancing youth appeal with inclusive, multigenerational narratives may prove critical to building sustainable cultural and commercial success.
