By Mashable | Created at 2026-09-10 12:58:53 | Updated at 2026-09-10 13:53:50
1 hour ago
Remember those VH1 shows I Love the '80s and I Love the '90s, where talking heads would opine about defining pop culture moments like Pac-Man, General Hospital’s wedding of Luke and Laura, or the OJ Simpson car chase? There was no shortage of easily recognizable subjects to explore.
A version of I Love the 2020s seems less likely — and not just because of unlovable events like a pandemic and climate change. The monoculture that permeated the 20th century, in which a few TV networks, movie studios, record labels, and magazine editors decided what everyone saw, read, and obsessed over, has receded, largely because the internet has fractured audiences and altered viewing habits.
A mainstream culture still exists, though, at least according to a new culture and trends report commissioned by YouTube and released today. The trends report, titled "In Search of Mainstream" and created in partnership with the National Research Group, queried approximately 1,000 respondents aged 14-44 who described themselves as "active online." The participants were asked what they considered "mainstream" and how they encountered media that appealed to them.
It may not surprise many that YouTube’s findings reflect a fracturing of culture, with respondents’ familiarity with the top 10 most powerful entertainment brands sliding in the last six years. Similarly, young people are less aware of movies and TV shows and more knowledgeable about content creators they find on sites like TikTok and, yes, YouTube.
But while knowledge of Hollywood movies continues to slip among young people, fandom among those who are aware of them is growing, according to YouTube's research. In other words, while people may be gravitating to different options in this age of unlimited content, their attachment to their favorites is intensifying.
Mashable Trend Report
And that fandom is increasingly personal, according to YouTube, with 63 percent of online 14- to 44-year-olds who identify as fans agreeing with this statement: "I feel successful when the person or thing I'm a fan of experiences success."
The desire to be part of a monoculture remains
A striking aspect of the findings was that many respondents expressed a desire to be part of something bigger or more universal. “...63% agree that being into the same things as other people makes them feel part of something bigger," according to YouTube.
In that vein, many people are seeking out more personalized experiences online, with creators and communities that align with their interests, according to YouTube. So, while a teenager might not be aware that The Odyssey was coming to their local multiplex, they are actively seeking content (videos, podcasts, social media posts) about films they already know and love.
How do you define mainstream?
For YouTube and NRG, mainstream is the sweet spot of visibility, comprehension, and understanding — when something is "seen everywhere, actively engaged with, and understood across audiences."
Participation is a key factor in breaking through to the mainstream, according to YouTube. When people share memes, record podcasts, or film videos about subjects — everything from sports events like the World Cup to content creators like Mr. Beast — it gives them more credence. According to the trends survey, 65 percent of 14- to 44-year-olds agree that something feels more real or legitimate when they see it show up on YouTube.
Backrooms to the front
In its release on the study, YouTube highlights the case of Backrooms, one of the year’s biggest blockbusters. What started as an eerie photograph turned into an urban legend of abandoned, liminal spaces thanks to online forums, fan art, and YouTube videos that generated 15 billion YouTube views.
Backrooms moved towards critical mass when online creator Kane Parsons adapted the mythology into a series of found-footage films, which then became a full-length movie Parsons himself directed. At 19 years old, Parsons became the youngest director to top the global box office. Talk about mainstream.
