Teens Tune Out: Apple TV+ Struggles to Capture Young Audience Amid Streaming Giants

Apple TV+ has been steadily gaining traction in the competitive streaming market, especially with the success of acclaimed series such as Severance and The Studio. However, a recent survey reveals that one key demographic is notably absent from the platform: teenagers. According to a new survey conducted by Piper Sandler, only a mere 1% of teens in the United States regularly watch Apple TV+, a stark contrast to the platform's growing popularity among older viewers.
The survey, part of Piper Sandler's 49th semi-annual report, involved a comprehensive poll of over 6,000 teenagers across the US. It explored their preferences and habits related to various aspects of their lives, including technology, entertainment, food, and fashion. Among the findings, the persistent dominance of the iPhone among young users stood out, with an impressive 88% of teens reporting that they own an iPhone.
Despite the high penetration of iPhones, the low viewership of Apple TV+ among teens raises questions. Only 1% of those surveyed stated that Apple TV+ is a regular part of their daily video consumption. In stark contrast, popular streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube have significantly higher engagement rates, with 31% and 26% of teens, respectively, reporting they watch those services daily. This disparity indicates that Apple TV+ has not yet established a foothold with younger audiences, which is surprising given the high number of iPhone users.
Since its launch, Apple TV+ has faced scrutiny from industry analysts and competitors alike, including Netflix's CEO, who have speculated on Apple's intentions in the streaming space. Some believe this venture may serve as a marketing strategy to enhance customer loyalty to the iPhone brand, but the data suggests that owning an iPhone and subscribing to Apple TV+ do not correlate significantly among teenagers.
The question remains: what can Apple do to bridge this gap? With a subscription price of $9.99 per month, Apple TV+ offers a range of popular shows and movies, including fan favorites like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, Silo, and Shrinking. Additionally, there are several ways for users to access content for free, potentially attracting a younger audience.
As Apple strives to expand its market share, it would be insightful to hear your thoughts on these viewership statistics. How do you perceive Apple TV+'s appeal to teenagers? What strategies do you think the platform should employ to increase its popularity among this demographic?