Pew research: Almost half of U.S. teenagers say they’re on-line ‘virtually consistently’

Teens’ social media use — and its impact on their psychological well being — is commonly within the information, and new analysis from the Pew Analysis Heart states that just about half of American teenagers are “virtually consistently” on-line.

In its Teens, Social Media, and Technology 2024 research, launched on Thursday, Pew acknowledged that just about half (46 %) of at present’s teenagers aged 13 to 17 say they’re on-line virtually consistently. Whereas this determine is in line with 2022 and 2023 analysis, it is a 24 % enhance from a decade in the past.

Almost all (96 %) of teenagers say they log on every day, which is round what number of (95 %) have entry to a smartphone.

46 % of teenagers say they’re on-line virtually consistently.
Credit score: Pew Analysis Heart

This report is predicated on a self-administered net survey of 1,391 U.S. teenagers and a mother or father per teen, performed between September and October this 12 months.

Pew additionally broke down which platforms teenagers ceaselessly go to, and what number of stated they’re on them practically consistently: 16 % stated they’re “virtually consistently” on TikTok, whereas 15 % stated the identical about YouTube, 13 % about Snapchat, 12 % about Instagram, and three % on Fb.

Extra teenagers say they go on these platforms at least once every day. Total, 73 % say they’re on YouTube, teenagers’ most frequented social media platform, no less than as soon as a day. Fifty-seven % say they go on TikTok no less than as soon as a day, and round half go on Instagram and/or Snapchat as soon as a day. Fb is the least-visited, however rounds out the highest 5, with 20 % of teenagers saying they go on no less than as soon as a day.

What number of teenagers ceaselessly go to platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
Credit score: Pew Analysis Heart

Pew discovered that extra teen ladies use Instagram and TikTok, whereas boys usually tend to say they use YouTube. Fewer teenagers use X (17 %), Reddit (14 %), and Threads (6 %).

This analysis comes amid scrutiny of social media platforms and the way they influence teenagers. In October, the CDC confirmed there’s a hyperlink between social media use and mental health struggles for teenagers, and Australia recently banned social media for children under 16.