Gen Z and Millennials Are Leading a New Wave of Streaming Piracy—Here's Why

When a streaming service becomes too expensive for your comfort, yet you feel it’s essential, you’re left with few options. You could cancel it or look for cheaper alternatives, but for some people, piracy is the answer.

According to a March 2023 survey conducted by Cordcutting.com, a whopping one-third of American adults admitted to pirating shows or movies in the prior year. Even more surprising, nearly half of all adults confessed to engaging in this illicit activity at some point in their lives. The demographic breakdown shows that men are more likely to be digital buccaneers, with 56 percent admitting to piracy compared to just 43 percent of women.

Age also plays a significant role in piracy habits. The study found that younger generations are far more likely to engage in this behavior, with 76 percent of Gen Z adults and 67 percent of Millennials admitting to pirating content at least once. In contrast, less than half of older generations reported ever dabbling in digital theft.

The motivations behind piracy are diverse, but cost is a primary factor. In this study, many respondents cited interest in a specific show or movie without wanting to pay for an entire subscription as their main reason for turning to illegal sources. Others pointed to the overall expense of streaming services, which have seen price hikes in recent years (think Spotify, Max, etc.).

Interestingly, the study revealed that piracy isn’t necessarily an all-or-nothing proposition. Nearly 80 percent of those who admitted to pirating content also paid for two or more streaming services. This suggests that many viewers supplement their legal viewing options with occasional dips into piracy rather than relying on it exclusively. This might also indicate that it’s not piracy or theft that people enjoy, otherwise they’d do it across the board. Instead, it’s an effort to save money, something we can all relate to.

As streaming services continue to change up their business models, including implementing stricter password-sharing policies and ad-supported tiers, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact piracy rates. Notably, 11 percent of individuals who have engaged in piracy reported that they are doing so more frequently, and 11 percent of the 988 adults surveyed said they’d do the same if only they knew how.

If you’re on the fence about pirating shows and movies, we strongly suggest considering the risks. Aside from legal implications, you could expose your device to harmful viruses. It can also be a slippery slope, leading to a habit that’s difficult to break. Many free, legal streaming services offer ad-supported content.