Most young teens in the US visit social media platforms, including TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, at least once a day, according to a new report from Pew Research.
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Pew’s survey of 1,458 teens aged 13 to 17 found that, after a dip in social media use in 2022, use of TikTok, YouTube and Instagram is spiking, with YouTube in particular popular across all demographics, including gender, race, ethnicity and income levels. TikTok is also a constant presence for a fifth of teens: 21% of them said they visit TikTok almost constantly.
The debate over the effects of social media use on teens has been heavily debated and has led Australia to ban the platforms for teens younger than 16. Some US states have also moved to limit or ban social media for minors or to introduce age-verification rules.
Pew has been tracking social media use among teens since around 2009, publishing regular reports since 2014. This year, Pew added statistics for the use of chatbots, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The Pew report found that almost two-thirds of US teens, 64%, use chatbots. The results are higher for older teens, aged 15 to 17 (68%), than for younger teens, aged 13 to 14 (57%). Black and Hispanic teens, and teens from higher-income homes, are more likely to use chatbots, the report found.
(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
Increased time online can lead to increased risks
The findings from Pew Research are in line with what one long-running children’s advocacy group is seeing.
“Teens are using social media platforms more often and at younger ages, and that increases their exposure to bullying, grooming, and high-pressure interactions,” said Michael Medoro, chief of staff and chief operating officer at Childhelp. The organization, founded in 1959, offers a child abuse hotline and educational curriculum aimed at preventing child abuse and helping victims.
Medoro said constant usage of social media apps can be a stressor for teens.
Read more: Australia Bans Social Media for Kids Under 16
“Our hotline counselors hear from teens who feel overwhelmed and overstimulated by constant notifications and comparisons to others,” he said. “Increased time on apps usually means increased risk for emotional distress, especially without strong guardrails.”
While social media bans can be effective in some ways, Medoro said that many teens find workarounds. Parents need to engage with and check in on their children regularly, and platforms need to implement age checks and safety features to protect minors.
“Governments, families, schools and tech companies all have a part to play,” he said.
The organization is also concerned about Pew’s findings about the increasing use of chatbots, particularly among marginalized communities. Chatbots can be a place teens turn to for mental-health guidance when they’re struggling with loneliness, anxiety or isolation. Those interactions can be hard for parents or others to spot.
“Chatbots can also give unsafe advice when a teen is looking for help online instead of seeking a mental health professional, which can deepen existing issues,” Medoro said.
Source: CNET
