While short-form video dominates their attention spans, 18-year-olds still possess a deep appetite for long-form content—provided it is immersive. Podcasts have seen a massive surge in this age group, offering a hands-free way to dive deep into true crime, philosophy, or comedy while commuting or studying. Similarly, "binge-watching" culture remains strong on streaming giants like Netflix and Max, but only for shows that spark immediate conversation on social media, turning the viewing experience into a collective event.
This paper introduces the concept of the Unlike previous generations who bonded over shared, linear media events (e.g., the whole family watching the same show at 8 PM), 18-year-olds inhabit "content silos." linear media events (e.g.