Today’s teens are navigating a digital landscape unlike the one experienced by their predecessors, particularly when it comes to the pervasive presence of social media. In 2022, an in-depth survey asked American teens – and their parents – about their experiences with and views toward social media.
Findings:
- A majority of teens use social media, YouTube being the most popular.
- TikTok use is more common among Black teens and among teen girls.
- Majorities of teens use TikTok and YouTube daily, some more often than that.
- A majority of teens said it would be difficult to give up social media.
- Teens are more likely to say social media has had a negative effect on others than on themselves, and are more likely to report positive social media use experiences than negative ones.
- When it comes to social media platforms abuse, many teens think criminal charges or permanent bans would help a lot.
- Some teens, especially older teen girls, avoid posting certain things on social media out of fear of embarrassment or other reasons.
- Many teens don't think that have control over what information that social media companies collect about them.
- Some 22% of teens think their parents are extremely or very worried about them using social media, but 46% of parents ARE worried.
Vogels, E., Gelles-Watnick, R., & Massarat, N. (2023). Teens, social media and technology. Pew Reserach Center.
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/
