Gen Z are obsessive about spoilers as 68% admit to doing a ‘Second Screaming’

Impatient Gen Zers are obsessed with spoilers and love looking up the plot of horror films while watching them.

Two thirds of young folk scan the net for developments and the ending in real time, a practice known as ‘second streaming’. But just a quarter of Gen X or 10% of Boomers admit to doing the same thing. Psychologists believe as well as having short attention spans, the scaredy cats are too nervous to watch an unnerving flick without knowing what will happen.

Explaining the trend, Dr Charlotte Armitage said: “In an age where information is at our fingertips, it’s no wonder that our viewing habits as a nation are evolving.

“For younger generations, to focus and pay attention for long periods of time, such as waiting until the end of a film, could feel like too long a time to wait.

“The notion of using your phone during a horror film is also providing people with a comfort blanket by taking away the suspense.”

Grabbing a snack, watching a horror film in the daytime and hiding behind a trusty pillow are among the other coping mechanisms we use to combat the willies, according to the research by Three UK.

Dr Pam Thurschwell of the University of Sussex’s English department says people like to know what’s in store in terms of jump scares and nasty surprises.

She said: “Sometimes you just want to be prepared, and it means you’re more relaxed when you’re watching.

“Before social media, spoilers weren’t really a problem because when it came to TV, people were probably watching it at the same time.”

Scary movies leave their mark after we watch them, with a quarter admitting they search the house for intruders and the same number left too frightened to go use the bathroom.

Three UK is offering 24 months of Paramount+ access included in phone plans to stream scary movies and TV shows.