Is it harder being a teen today? Or do they have it easier than those of past generations? We asked parents and teens who say being a teenager has gotten harder or easier to explain in their own words why they think so.
85% of U.S. teens say they play video games. They see both positive and negative sides, from making friends to harassment and sleep loss.
Most teens at least sometimes feel happy and peaceful when they don’t have their phone, but 44% say this makes them anxious. Half of parents say they have looked through their teen’s phone.
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Today, nearly all U.S. teens (96%) say they use the internet every day. And the share of teens who report being online “almost constantly” has roughly doubled since 2014-2015 (24% vs. 46%).
YouTube is the most popular online platform among teens, with roughly nine-in-ten saying they use the site. And more than half of teens report using TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.
YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram remain the most widely used online platforms among U.S. teens. And teens are less likely to be using Facebook and Twitter (recently renamed X) than they were a decade ago.
Today, 52% of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI in daily life, compared with just 10% who say they are more excited than concerned.
Roughly one-in-five teenagers who have heard of ChatGPT say they have used it to help them do their schoolwork.
U.S. adults and teens are more likely to support than oppose requiring parental consent for minors to create a social media account.
More than half of U.S. teens say it would be difficult for them to give up social media. 36% say they spend too much time on social media.
A majority of U.S. parents are keeping a watchful eye on what their teens do on social media; some are also imposing screen time restrictions.
Nearly half of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online, with physical appearance being seen as a relatively common reason why. Older teen girls are especially likely to report being targeted by online abuse overall and because of their appearance.
Majorities of teens credit social media with strengthening their friendships and providing support while also noting the emotionally charged side of these platforms.
© 2024 Pew Research Center
