How U.S. Teenagers Use and Perceive Social Media
A recent survey by the Pew Research Center provides a detailed look at how U.S. teenagers use and perceive three major social media platforms. The study, conducted from September 25 to October 9, 2025, surveyed 1,458 teens aged 13 to 17 and their parents, focusing on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
Methodology: The survey was conducted online. The overall margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. Findings represent the views of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who live with their parents.
Why Teens Use These Platforms
Entertainment is a nearly universal reason for using these platforms, cited by roughly 90% or more of teen users. It was a major reason for approximately 80% of TikTok users.
Beyond entertainment, most teens also reported using the platforms for social connection: to keep in touch with friends and family and to connect with others who share their interests. Snapchat users were the most likely to cite keeping up with friends and family as a major reason.
The survey also identified platform-specific uses:
- Product Reviews: Roughly six-in-ten TikTok users reported using the platform for product reviews.
- News: About four-in-ten or more teens on TikTok and Instagram reported using the platforms for news, compared to about a quarter of Snapchat users.
- Celebrities & Athletes: Majorities of teens on Instagram and TikTok reported using the platforms to keep up with athletes or celebrities.
- Politics: More teens on TikTok and Instagram than on Snapchat cited keeping up with politics or political issues as a reason for use.
User Behavior and Screen Time
Messaging and Posting:
- 57% of teens on Snapchat reported messaging people daily on the app, including about four-in-ten who do so several times a day.
- About three-in-ten teens on Snapchat reported posting or sharing on the platform daily, including 17% who do this multiple times a day.
Screen Time Perceptions:
- About three-in-ten teen TikTok users reported they spend too much time on the app. Smaller shares of Instagram or Snapchat users reported the same.
- The most common response across all platforms was that teens spend the right amount of time.
Perceived Impact on Daily Life
Across all three platforms, most teen users reported the platform neither hurts nor helps their mental health.
Sleep and Productivity:
- Roughly four-in-ten TikTok users reported the platform negatively impacts their sleep, compared with about a quarter of Snapchat or Instagram users.
- Larger shares of TikTok users also reported it hurts their productivity.
Friendships and Social Life:
- 44% of Snapchat users reported the platform helps their friendships, a higher share than reported by Instagram or TikTok users.
Self-Esteem:
- About six-in-ten teen users of each platform reported that what they see makes no difference in how they feel about themselves.
- When teens reported a directional impact, it leaned more positive. For example, 15% of TikTok users reported it makes them feel better, while 3% reported it makes them feel worse.
Overall Experience:
- About seven-in-ten teens on each platform reported having a mostly positive experience. 3% on each platform reported a mostly negative experience.
Negative Experiences and Harassment
- Roughly three-quarters of users on each site reported seeing harassment and bullying on the platform as a problem for people their age.
- A minority of teens reported first-hand experience. Roughly three-in-ten Snapchat users reported experiencing harassment, such as being called an offensive name. These shares dropped to about one-in-five for Instagram or TikTok users.
Parental Views
- When asked about social media's overall impact on their teen, about a quarter of parents reported it hurts their teen's mental health, compared with 8% who reported it helps.
- The survey noted a disconnect in perceptions of screen time: 28% of teen TikTok users reported spending too much time on the site, while 44% of parents reported the same about their teen's use of the platform.