Representation matters.
From cinema to music, right to our very own newsrooms, the diversity shown in media does not match what we see in the real world, and the data is alarming.
Diversity has always been important in the media because it gives younger generations someone they can look up to. Despite some corporations attempting to include more diversity in media, such as Halle Bailey’s new take on The Little Mermaid, many consumers are still not satisfied. Audiences want new characters and storylines that represent diverse cultures, not just changes in the usual blockbuster movie.
According to the Deloitte Center for Technology, Media and Telecommunications, 75% of consumers say they do not feel represented in today’s entertainment, a staggering statistic considering the advancements in recent years.
However, social media platforms can provide diverse spaces. More than 40% of people find social media is more diverse than other media forms. In addition, 47% of consumers follow creators who share similar values or look like them.
Compared with this standard, the TV and movie industry is shockingly less diverse. According to UCLA’s 2025 Hollywood diversity report, only 2.5 out of 10 lead actors in theatrical films are people of color, while white actors hold 74.8% of leading roles, despite making up about 55.7% of the U.S. population as of 2024.
And it’s not just the actors: behind-the-scenes jobs — especially those with decision-making power, like writers or directors — carry even less diversity in their workplaces. According to data from USC Annenberg, the nominees for Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards included no women and no Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) nominees. The Best Director category only had one woman and no BIPOC directors nominated, either.
Representation in pop culture allows youth to feel like they belong. Without diversity in TV shows, movies, and workplaces, we are taking away power and confidence from the next generation.
The media is very important in our advanced age, so it’s important to use it to teach the younger generation. Without it, we wouldn’t have the upstanding, confident youth that we have today. Corporations need to continue finding diverse faces because current representation isn’t up to par.
