The concepts of genealogy and family history sometimes get a bad rap. These terms often conjure up images of family tree flowcharts—frequently handwritten and hard to follow—old journals, and wrinkled, faded photographs. In today’s fast-paced world dominated by media and technology, flipping through old records to find family connections can feel more outdated than ever.
But like most things that truly matter, great minds across many different industries have found ways to reinvigorate the desire to learn about one’s family heritage. Think about the companies that can tell you, within a matter of weeks, which parts of the world your ancestors came from—all based on a simple DNA swab! That brilliant use of DNA technology has inspired thousands of people, many of whom may have an aversion to the word “genealogy,” to explore where they came from.
While family trees and flowcharts will always have their place—adding names, dates, and, if we’re lucky, meaningful life details—they’re no longer the primary tool for discovering family heritage. Instead, younger generations are using them to add context, color, and stories to their genetic results.
At Your Legacy Story, we believe that documentary-style videos are the next great innovation in the genealogy space. Beyond being emotionally powerful and engaging—especially when the featured individual has passed on—there’s growing research showing the impact of video, particularly among Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Studies show that online video is the most-used form of media among teens and young adults, with YouTube leading the way, followed by Instagram and TikTok.* These platforms aren’t just for entertainment either. Gen Z and Gen Alpha often begin their shopping journeys on YouTube and TikTok, searching for video reviews. They also turn to these platforms for educational content—watching tutorials on new skills, math homework help, or how to fix their car, bike, or computer.
While traditional genealogy will always have its place, we believe the best way to spark interest in family heritage for younger generations is by presenting it in the format they’re most familiar with—and most inspired by. There’s no better way to do that than by creating a documentary they’ll want to watch again and again.
Most used social media platforms among Gen Z - Statista - June 2025
