Photo by Alexander Shatov on Unsplash
Teen Social Media Use Is Skyrocketing, Pew Research Reveals
December 13, 2023
In a shift that will perhaps be unsurprising to many parents, a significant portion of American teens are reporting their use of certain social media sites as “almost constant,” according to a new study by Pew Research Center. The survey encompassed nearly 1,500 teens. YouTube continues to hold its position as the top platform among U.S. teens, leading for a second consecutive year. Specific findings include:
- A substantial 93% of teens admitted to using YouTube.
- This significantly outstrips TikTok’s usage, which stands at 63%.
- Snapchat follows closely behind TikTok with 60% usage.
- Instagram trails slightly, with 59% of teens using the platform.
- Facebook lags far behind, with a relatively small 33% usage among teens.
One-third of these young respondents said they find themselves on these platforms “almost constantly.” If that’s not startling enough, the percentage of teens reporting near-constant internet use has nearly doubled to 46% since 2015, when Pew first released its survey.
Older teens (15-17) are more likely to use most social media platforms than younger ones, with the exception of YouTube, which holds pretty consistent across age groups. Examining the report further, it’s clear that gender plays a role in platform preference: Girls are more likely to use Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, while boys gravitate toward YouTube, Twitter, and Reddit.
Despite recent controversies and lawsuits suggesting potential harm to young people’s mental health, teens continue to engage heavily with these platforms. Platforms like Instagram and Snapchat have shown overall growth since Pew’s 2015 report, while Facebook and Twitter saw a decline in teen users. Meanwhile, concerns about social media’s effects on the mental health of young users persist. In response to these concerns, platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and more have started introducing features meant to protect their younger users.
However, the study also reveals a stark digital divide with 10% of the surveyed teens admitting they lack access to a desktop or laptop at home — a fact that not only affects their social media usage but academic opportunities as well.
Recent News
Massive Data Breach Hits Ticketmaster, Affecting 560 Million Customers
Ticketmaster has fallen victim to a significant cyber-attack, potentially compromising the data of up to 560 million customers. The breach was confirmed by Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, which revealed that a notorious hacking group, ShinyHunters, is behind the attack. The hackers are demanding a ransom of approximately £400,000 to prevent the data from being sold on the dark web.
Toyota Recalls 100,000+ Tundra and Lexus LX SUVs Over Engine Debris Issue
Toyota has announced a recall for over 100,000 Tundra pickups and Lexus LX SUVs in North America due to potential engine issues caused by machining debris. This recall affects certain 2022-2023 models of the Tundra and LX, which are equipped with the new V6 twin-turbo engine. The V6 twin-turbo engine has faced considerable scrutiny regarding its reliability, especially when compared to the previous naturally aspirated V8 engines.
Wordle and Worldle Battle Over Names
A legal dispute has erupted between the wildly popular word game Wordle and the lesser-known geography game Worldle, centering on the similarity of their names. Wordle, which was developed by Josh Wardle in 2021 and later acquired by the New York Times in 2022 for a substantial sum, has gained immense popularity. In this game, players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word.
FDA Issues Recall for Crecelac Goat Milk Infant Formula
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert regarding Crecelac Goat Milk Infant Formula and other infant formula products imported and distributed by Dairy Manufacturers Inc. The alert highlights Cronobacter contamination concerns with Crecelac Infant Powdered Goat Milk Infant Formula. Although Dairy Manufacturers Inc. initiated a recall on May 24, 2024, due to non-compliance with FDA regulations, new findings of Cronobacter contamination have prompted further action.