At a time when people are becoming more and more invested in screens, we start to wonder: why are podcasts becoming so popular?
In the past decade or so, podcasts have enjoyed a steady ascent in popularity. Now more than ever, people have become more acquainted with the new form of media—and they've also become more invested in it. Weekly podcasts have become fan favourites, subscriptions have risen in quantity, and almost everyone seems to have a list of "must-listens" they can easily recommend.
See Also: Why You Should Finally Get Into Podcasts or Start Your Own
But why are podcasts so popular? Considering how much people love to watch things—be it movies, series, or even music videos—it may come as a surprise that listeners have become so invested in audio. So why is it so?
Read more: 3 Podcasts Led by Female Thought Leaders
A Sense of Intimacy
When mukbangs first came into popularity in the late 2010s, people were quick to point out that it gained a massive fan base because it felt intimate. For some people who were dining alone, it was nice to have another person—albeit on a screen—right there with them. It felt like a form of socialisation. While not exactly the same, podcasts can create a similar feeling of intimacy between host and listener. For many podcast lovers, a good host will make them feel as though they're right there talking with a friend. This kind of intimacy can be comforting to have, especially during times when loved ones may be unreachable, such as when it is necessary to undergo physical isolation or quarantine.
A study by Harvard University has shown that loneliness is on the rise due to the pandemic. The hardest-hit demographic? Teens and young adults, who, as digital natives, are more likely to understand and access the technology behind podcasts.
