Entertainment can be an escape for many people. Personally I like a good movie or show, but have a hard time just watching them. I tend to be doing something else while it's on as it doesn't hold my attention. It's more of background noise for me. Personally I'd drop all of our live tv and be content with netflix...but the Wife and kids would be very upset. Actually we did it for 2 months and they were driving me crazy so had to start it back up.
Has this changed over time? I have friends wil oder kids (teenage) who's kids can't watch a movie. I put it down to the entertainment they consume as being fastfood content, YouTube clip, Instagram, snapchat etc. "investing" two hours into a film seems a long time.
Interesting question. Hadn't really thought about it, but I'd say it has changed some. What I watch hasn't changed much. Always have enjoyed horror movies, sci fi, and comedy. But what has changed is my ability to have a computer in my lap while I watch. When I was kid I might play with something while I watched tv or sort baseball cards or whatever. Never just watching TV.
My kids will sit and watch youtube clips and stuff on their tablets, but I never see them. We don't allow snapchat or instagram yet for either of them and I hate both of them...total time suck with absolutely nothing of value on them. I'm going to have to start using instagram more for my business as people like it, but I see no real purpose to it other then using it as a marketing tool. I will never be a consumer of content there.