Social media is currently an essential part of everyone’s day to day including teenagers. Unlike old times, teenagers of this generation have access to digital devices such as Smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc along with accessibility of the internet which plays a crucial role in the rise of social media usage among teenagers. Today, 93% of teenagers use social media platforms and 75% of teens have at least one active social media network.
In this article, we are going to take an in-depth look at teens using social media and gain insight into its demographic, average time spent, most popular platform, positive and negative aspects, etc.
Key Statistics
- More than 93% of teenagers are using social media platforms.
- The Average time spent on social media by teenagers is 4 hours and 8 minutes.
- Teen girls are more likely to use social media compared to teen boys.
- YouTube is the most popular social media platform among teens with 93% of teen users.
- 8% of the global Instagram users are aged between 13 to 17 years.
- 67% of the 18 to 19-year-olds were active on TikTok in 2022.
- YouTube is the most popular social media platform among teen boys.
What Percentage Of Teens Use Social Media?
Over 93% of teens are using social media, which is approximately 37 million teens alone in the United States. While 75% of the teenagers have at least one active social media profile.
YouTube is the most used social media platform among teens with 93% of teen users accessing the platform. Followed by TikTok in the second position with 63% of teen users. Snapchat and Instagram are ranked third and fourth in this list with 60% and 59% of teen users respectively.
Here is the breakdown of the most used social media platforms among teenagers:
| Rank | Social Media Platform | Percentage of teen users |
| 1 | YouTube | 93% |
| 2 | TikTok | 63% |
| 3 | Snapchat | 60% |
| 4 | 59% | |
| 5 | 33% | |
| 6 | Discord | 28% |
| 7 | 21% | |
| 8 | X | 20% |
| 9 | Twitch | 17% |
| 10 | 14% |
How often do teens visit social media platforms?
According to a survey by Pew Research Centre, YouTube is the most used social media platform among teenagers. YouTube is also one of the most frequently visited social media platforms with 16% of teens accessing it almost constantly, while 38% of the users access it several times a day. TikTok on the other hand is another widely utilized social media platform among teens with 17% using TikTok almost constantly, and 32% accessing it several times a day.
Snapchat and Instagram are also accessed by teens on a large scale with 14% of teens using Snapchat constantly, while 8% prefer to access Instagram regularly. Facebook is the least used social media platform among teenagers with 3% accessing it constantly, with 8% preferring to access it several times a day.
Here is a breakdown of how often teens visit different social media platforms in their day-to-day lives:
| Social media platforms | Almost constantly | Several times a day | About once a day | Several times a week |
| YouTube | 16% | 38% | 17% | 14% |
| TikTok | 17% | 32% | 9% | 4% |
| Snapchat | 14% | 29% | 8% | 5% |
| 8% | 27% | 12% | 7% | |
| 3% | 8% | 8% | 7% |
Teen using Social Media Platform By Age
| Age Group | YouTube | TikTok | Snapchat | ||
| 13 to 14 years old | 94% | 58% | 49% | 45% | 24% |
| 15 to 17 years old | 92% | 67% | 67% | 68% | 38% |
Teen Social Media Usage by Gender
Teen girls are more likely to access TikTok on a regular basis by 68% compared to teen boys who access TikTok by 59%. On the other hand, YouTube is majorly accessed by teen boys by 96% compared to teen girls by 91%. Snapchat and Instagram are majorly utilized by girls, the share of teen girls accessing this platform is 65% and 66% respectively.
Below we have mentioned a table showcasing social media usage among teenagers based on gender:
| Social Media | Teen Boys | Teen Girls |
| YouTube | 96% | 91% |
| TikTok | 59% | 68% |
| Snapchat | 56% | 65% |
| 53% | 66% | |
| 29% | 36% |
Teen Social Media Usage by Race and Ethnicity
YouTube is the most popular social media platform among teens of all races and ethnicities. TikTok is the second most popular social media network among Black and Hispanic teens, while for white teens Snapchat is the second most popular social media tool.
Below we have mentioned a table showcasing teen social media usage by Race and Ethnicity:
| Race and Ethnicity | YouTube | TikTok | Snapchat | ||
| White | 92% | 57% | 62% | 56% | 34% |
| Black | 94% | 80% | 66% | 69% | 37% |
| Hispanic | 96% | 70% | 59% | 62% | 31% |
U.S. teen’s average time spent on social networks
According to a survey conducted in the United States, it was revealed that on an average teenagers spend about 4.8 hours on social media platforms every day. Overall, teenage girls spend more time accessing social media platforms by almost an hour compared to teen boys every day. YouTube is the most popular social media platform among teen boys aged between 13 to 19 years as they spend 2.1 hours on YouTube every day, while the average time for girls is 1.7 hours. TikTok is the most popular social media platform among girls based on an average time spent daily of 1.9 hours.
Here is a breakdown of the average time spent by U.S. teens on social media platforms daily:
| Social Media Platform | Boys | Girls | All teenagers |
| YouTube | 2.1 | 1.7 | 1.9 |
| TikTok | 1.1 | 1.9 | 1.5 |
| 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | |
| 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | |
| Twitter (X) | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | |
| All platforms | 4.4 | 5.3 | 4.8 |
Source: Statista
Main reasons for using Social media platforms among teens
According to a global survey conducted during the first quarter of 2023, it was revealed that around 61% of teenagers utilize social media platforms to find funny posts. Followed by the second top reason stated to be looking at memes by 46%. Knowing what’s trending is the third most popular reason by 42% and watching or following sports is the fourth most popular reason by 26%.
Below we have mentioned a table showcasing some of the main reasons teens use social media platforms globally:
| Top Reason | Share of respondents |
| Finding funny posts | 61% |
| Looking at memes | 46% |
| Seeing what’s trending or being talked about | 42% |
| Watching or following sports | 26% |
| Sharing information on causes I care about | 24% |
| Posting my opinions | 24% |
| Reading the news | 21% |
| Meeting new people | 20% |
Source: Statista
Teens and Access to Digital Devices
Accessibility to various digital devices and the internet plays a significant role in enabling teenagers to use social media platforms. In terms of digital devices currently, the top 3 devices that are accessed by teenagers on a large scale are smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles. These devices help teenagers access various social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, etc, and encourage them to participate in online communities.
Here is a breakdown of the percentage of teenagers that own a digital device:
| Device Type | Percentage of teenagers owning the device |
| Smartphone | 85% |
| Laptop | 70% |
| Gaming Console | 60% |
Social media and teenage mental health
In this section, we are going to take a look at the impact of social media on teenagers. Along with how it affects their mental health along with highlighting major concerns faced by teen parents with excessive usage of social media platforms.
Image pressure on social media
Social Media is utilized by teenagers and young audiences globally on a large scale. However, one of the major drawbacks of teens utilizing social media platforms is the online harm and mental health challenges faced by teens on a regular basis. Image pressure is one of the major issues faced by teens in today’s world. The global pandemic resulted in the rise of social media usage among people including teenagers. In the past social media has often been linked as a cause for teen mental health problems.
In Fact, in 2019, 23% of girls aged 13 to 17 years old in the UK stated that using Instagram has made them feel somewhat worse than before and has created image pressure on social media. An online survey also revealed that 45% of Gen Z respondents believed that there was too much pressure to be perfect on social media.
U.S. parents on the effect of social media on teens
A survey conducted in 2023 revealed that the majority of American parents believe that excessive usage of social media is partially to blame for the rise of depression among teenagers. The platform which made parents the most concerned was Instagram followed by TikTok and Snapchat. The majority of teen parents believe social media is affecting their children negatively with 58% stating it causes them to not sleep enough. Not performing enough physical activity is the second leading concern among parents 57%.
Here is a breakdown of the top concerns among U.S. parents on the negative effects of social media on teens:
| Top reasons | Share of respondents |
| Not sleeping enough | 58% |
| Not enough physical activity | 57% |
| Not enough focus on school work | 52% |
| Unhealthy need for approval or attention | 51% |
| Not enough face-to-face interaction | 49% |
| Becoming sexualized too soon | 45% |
| Not enough personal privacy, oversharing | 44% |
| Exposed to sexual predators | 41% |
| Exposed to hate speech | 41% |
| Inhibits ability to focus | 37% |
| Being bullied | 35% |
| Inhibits healthy brain development | 29% |
| Bullying others | 18% |
| None of the above | 5% |
Source: Statista
Positive aspects of teenage social media usage
Even though social media has various negative aspects such as image pressure and teen mental health issues, it also includes various positive aspects which can be extremely beneficial for teenagers. One of the best parts about using social media among teenagers is how it helps people stay connected with each other regardless of the distance between them. For example, during the global pandemic, the majority of people were in touch with their friends and family members through social media. Apart from this, it also helped teenagers to find like-minded communities and interest groups, watch live streams, support good causes, Explore and express themselves, and more. Therefore, social media can have various positive impacts among teenagers related to connection and entertainment if used safely.
Tips for Guiding Teens to Use Social Media Responsibly
While social media contains both positive and negative impacts on teenagers, there are certain measures that can be taken by parents to help their teens use social media platforms responsibly which are mentioned below:
- Set certain rules and limitations: One of the best ways to avoid social media from getting in between your homework, meals, and sleeping schedule is by setting a limit. For example, you can set a rule to not social media until your homework is finished or you have completed your meals. You can also turn off notifications on your social media account during certain times to avoid getting distracted. This way, you can make major changes in your life through simple measures.
- Handle challenging behaviors: Have a face-to-face conversation with your teen if you feel their social media usage is starting to cross the rules and regulations and speak to them about what’s appropriate and not.
- Enable privacy settings: Make sure your children’s social media account has enabled its privacy settings. This way, you can ensure your kid is not sharing any personal data or information that isn’t meant to be shared and the data is well protected.
- Remind them what not to share: Make sure you remind your teenager of things that are correct and incorrect to upload or perform on social media and in real life. Remind them it’s hurt to spread wrong information or gossip about others and never to bully or harm someone’s reputation by spreading personal information about others online. This includes their password, address, phone numbers, etc.
- Keep a regular check on your teen’s account: It is suggested by The American Psychological Association to keep a regular check on your children’s social media accounts during early teen stages. One way to keep an eye on your children’s accounts is by following their social media accounts. This way, parents can keep track of their posts and stories without the need to check their smartphone or digital device.
- Avoid them from talking to strangers: Have a clear talk with your teen regarding what’s appropriate on social media and make sure they don’t connect or talk to any strangers.
FAQs
How many kids under 13 use social media?
Around 68% of kids under the age of 13 are using social media platforms in the United States. 47% of the respondents are accessing TikTok, and 31% are accessing Snapchat.
What percentage of 11 and 12-year-olds have a social media profile?
46% of 11-year-olds and 51% of 12-year-olds currently have a social media profile according to a report by Ofcom’s Children and Parents Media Use and Attitudes.
What social media does Gen Z use?
YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are the top three social media platforms that are used by Gen Z on a large scale.
How many teenagers use Instagram?
Around 8% of Instagram users globally belong to teenagers who fall under the age category of 13 to 17 years old.
Is Snapchat ok for a 12-year-old?
No, Snapchat is not ok for a 12-year-old as the minimum age required to use Snapchat is 13 years old.
What gender uses Instagram the most?
Teen girls are more likely to use Instagram than teen boys. Around 66% of teen girls are using Instagram compared to 53% of teen boys.
Wrapping Up
Overall, the usage of social media among teens has definitely increased over the last few years. Currently, the average time spent by a teenager on social media is 4 hours and 8 minutes which can be quite concerning for some parents. Therefore, it’s crucial parents take essential care and implications regarding how much time their kid spends online, what content they engage with, what content they share online, etc to ensure safe and secure usage of social media.
