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These are the TV shows millennials love, according to a brand expert

These are the TV shows millennials love, according to a brand expert

Millennials, like all of us, are making their way through a "firehose of content."

Millennials want entertaining content that also changes the world.

It used to be about quality entertainment and social traction. But in the golden age of TV, there's too much quality entertainment for that to be an effective filter. The next filter has to do with how we believe and how we were raised.

"Some of the basic underpinning of the millennial culture was that everybody got a trophy," Ong said. "We can laugh at that, but they were brought up valuing equality. They were raised with a sense of fairness and that’s what they’re trying to enact now. Everything they do has to align with those values."

And so one way for content creators to capture millennial audiences is to lead with quality entertainment that has an underlying social element to it.

"I think what we’re starting to see are shows like ‘Making a Murderer’ and ‘American Crime’ springing from an idea that program or content with social value can be entertaining," Ong said. "But now, content comes from a place where the very act of investing your time to watch it helps make the world a better place, because you become more aware of things or even sometimes you can act on things."

Ong and her team put together a list of shows that best exemplify what millennials would invest their time in.

Here are the TV shows that most reflect millennial values according to their research:

Standard young millennial programming, which tends to lean toward the preachy (reflecting the generation's social values).

"Degrassi: The New Class" (Netflix), pictured above.
"The Fosters" (ABC Family)
"Switched at Birth" (ABC Family)

Scripted dramas looking to discuss social issues and create dialogue.

"American Crime" (ABC)
"Empire" (Fox)
"How to Get Away With Murder" (ABC)
"Jessica Jones" (Netflix)
"Scandal" (ABC)
"People vs. O.J. Simpson" (FX), pictured above.
"You're the Worst" (FX)

Scripted comedies with an underlying social message.

"Black-ish" (ABC)
"The Carmichael Show" (NBC)
"Inside Amy Schumer" (Comedy Central), pictured.
"Transparent" (Amazon)
"You're the Worst" (FX)
"Louie" (FX)

Unscripted with a social angle.

"Becoming Us" (ABC Family)
"Born This way" (A&E)
"I Am Cait" (E! Entertainment), pictured above.
"I Am Jazz" (TLC)

Documentaries looking to create social change.

"30 for 30" (ESPN)
"Going Clear" (HBO), pictured.
"The Jinx" (HBO)
"Making a Murderer" (Netflix)
"VICE" (HBO)
VICE network

News-driven programs with social commentary.

"Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" (TBS)
"Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" (HBO)
"VICE" (HBO)
VICE network

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