Adolescents’ Social Media Usage

According to a survey by Pew Research Center on teen social media use, 71% of teens reported being Facebook users. No other platform was used by a clear majority of teens at the time: Around half (52%) of teens said they used Instagram, while 41% reported using Snapchat.

-       Facebook is the most popular and frequently used social media platform among teens; half of teens use Instagram, and nearly as many use Snapchat.

-       The survey data reveals a distinct pattern in social media use by socio-economic status.

-       Texting is an especially important mode of communication for many teens

-       Teenage girls use social media sites and platforms — particularly visually-oriented ones — for sharing more than their male counterparts do.

Lenhart, A. (2014). Teens, social media & technology overview 2015: Smartphones facilitate shift in communication landscape for teens. Washington, D.C.: Pew Research Center. http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2015/04/PI_TeensandTech_Update2015_0409151.pdf