Teens are the biggest fans of social networks. Young people like to share about their lives, gather information on relevant topics, and feel connected with their friends and family.
What percent of teens use social network sites? Which platforms do they love using the most?
And is social media doing more bad than good? Let’s find out.
Post Contents
- 1 What Percent of Teens Use Social Network Sites like Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram?
- 2 Social Networks: Which Are They Using?
- 3 Pros of Using Social Media for Teens
- 4 Social Media and Mental Health
- 5 Cons of Using Social Media for Teens
- 6 Constantly Visited Social Networks
- 7 What are People Posting on Social Networks?
- 8 Conclusion
- 9 Sources
What Percent of Teens Use Social Network Sites like Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram?
In the world’s biggest economy, the United States, a staggering 90% of the country’s teenage population uses social networks.
Almost half of which, or 46%, use these platforms almost constantly while only 3% answered they only use them several times a week or even less.
There is clearly a high percentage of social media penetration among people aged 13 to 17 years old in the United States.
Social Networks: Which Are They Using?
Aside from knowing what percent of teens use social network sites Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, it is important to know how many are using each platform.
Take a look at this data from Pew Research Center showing the percentage of US teens aged 13 to 17 years old admitting to having used each mentioned site at one point in their lives released in 2022.
- YouTube – 95% of teens in the country have used a platform at least once
- TikTok – 67% of teens in the country have used a platform at least once
- Instagram – 62% of teens in the country have used a platform at least once
- Snapchat – 59% of teens in the country have used a platform at least once
- Facebook – 32% of teens in the country have used a platform at least once
- Twitter – 23% of teens in the country have used a platform at least once
- Twitch – 20% of teens in the country have used a platform at least once
- WhatsApp – 17% of teens in the country have used a platform at least once
- Reddit – 14% of teens in the country have used a platform at least once
- Tumblr – 5% of teens in the country have used a platform at least once
Pros of Using Social Media for Teens
Contrary to how social media is being portrayed, these platforms have a cornucopia of benefits.
But how can social media support young people’s development? First, they can be used for holistic learning.
Social networks are full of information and exposure to them broadens young people’s minds.
Teens generate a different worldview about current events, and this is essential in developing an understanding of different cultures, religions, and beliefs that are entirely different from theirs.
Social Media and Mental Health
Another, social media helps in maintaining good mental health.
Unlike what we normally assume, social networks create a sense of belongingness, acceptance, and relief for young people as it’s easier to reach out to people within our networks.
Lastly, there is digital literacy. In this day and age, digital proficiency is important to build up one’s competitiveness in the workforce when the time comes.
Today, better-paying jobs include social media management positions.
People who are adept at using these platforms will always have a vantage point compared to their peers who do not.
Cons of Using Social Media for Teens
Despite the benefits, the downside of social media will always be there.
25% of teens say social media makes them feel excluded while 26% admit it makes them feel insecure.
Meanwhile, some 33% said these platforms make them feel fake while 34% push them to be reserved.
Constantly Visited Social Networks
Another part of the Pew Research Study reveals information on frequently visited social networks.
Below is a piece of information detailing the percentage of the US teenage population who almost constantly visit each social network.
- YouTube – 19% of American teens admit to almost constantly using this site in 2022
- TikTok – 16% of American teens admit to almost constantly using this site in 2022
- Instagram – 10% of American teens admit to almost constantly using this site in 2022
- Snapchat – 15% of American teens admit to almost constantly using this site in 2022
- Facebook – 2% of American teens admit to almost constantly using this site in 2022
Admittedly, Facebook has met the dawn of the day. While Snapchat is a rising star.
In an article published on the Forbes website, 35% of 10,000 American teenagers surveyed named Snapchat as their favorite social media platform.
What are People Posting on Social Networks?
A good percentage of teenage boys and girls in the United States are on social networks to share their accomplishments, family life, and dating life among others.
Here are some of the motivating factors for being a social media and the percentage of US teens using them for such purposes.
- Accomplishments – 49% of teens use social networks for this purpose
- Family life – 44% of teens use social networks for this purpose
- Share emotions and feelings – 34% of teens use social networks for this purpose
- Share information about their dating life – 22% of teens use social networks for this purpose
- Share personal problems – 13% of teens use social networks for this purpose
- Religious beliefs – 11% of teens use social networks for this purpose
- Political beliefs – 9% of teens use social networks for this purpose
Conclusion
The percent of teens using social networking sites like Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram is at an impressive 90% (in the United States).
Well, there are obvious negative repercussions on usage, young people say social networks make them feel more connected with their peers and help them generate valuable information easily.
