I have a IRL best friend who is very against all forms of TV and media while I watch quite a bit of it. We argue strongly about this, so I've trodden this path ha.
Sometimes I'm not in the mood or mindset to read. 99% of my YouTube is makers / documentaries / war footage / local history and maps / etc. For mainstream stuff, just biopics or stories loosely based on real life or old war content (recently: Gotti, Edge of the World, Bruno Manser, Founder, Hacksaw Ridge, the Lebron/Lakers TV show, Detroit war production, some others) and I'm a huge sci-fi fan so I'll watch most scifi fiction as well.
To him, its all just mindless consumption. I 100% agree though about being social and desiging around people rather than a screen, but I don't judge others too much. To each their own.
I think there is good stuff out there, and I don't put your youtube watching in the same class as lots of the subscription content. Honestly, I think some of what youtube creators make is more valuable than what studios are spending millions on.
I was just surprised that after signing up for Prime, I thought I'd get a good few nights of viewing, but I seriously struggle to find anything worthwhile.
I still love Ken Burns docos, I really enjoyed Air, but I think most people are sucked into TV, and almost don't consider other options.
I think your friend is right that for most people it is mindless consumption. I think most people treat food as mindless consumption as well, and look where that has left the general population.
I think you've got the right approach of being selective of what you watch.