commonsense/social-media-social-life-2018ii SOCiAL MEDiA, SOCiAL LiFE: TEENS REVEAL THEiR EXPERiENCES, 2018
Common Sense is the leading
independent nonproft organization
dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world
of media and technology. We empower
parents, teachers, and policymakers by
providing unbiased information, trusted
advice, and innovative tools to help them
harness the power of media and technology
as a positive force in all kids’ lives.
commonsense
Friends,
What goes on in the minds of teenagers when they engage with social media, seemingly lost in
their screens It’s a question we as parents often ponder as we fret about the effects of social
media on our children’s well-being.
To fnd the answer, Common Sense went straight to the source and surveyed a nationally
representative sample of 1,141 teens in the United States, age 13 to 17. What they told us is
eye-opening and vastly more nuanced than we expected.
I’m especially excited to share the results of our 2018
Social Media, Social Life
survey with you.
Considered alongside the fndings from our 2012 survey of the same name, they offer a rare
glimpse into our teens’ worlds. Fair warning: Many of the insights are likely to challenge some
parents’ notions of whether social media is “good” or “bad” for teens.
Like teenagers themselves, this research presents a complex picture that defes simplistic
judgments. For example, on the one hand, teens feel social media strengthens their relationships
with friends and family, provides them with an important avenue for self-expression, and makes
them feel less lonely and more connected. At the same time, teens acknowledge that social media
can detract from face-to-face communication and make them feel left out or “less than” their
peers. In general, however, teens are more likely to say that social media has a positive effect on
how they feel.
That dichotomy is amplifed when it comes to more vulnerable teens who score lower on a
measure of social-emotional well-being. These teens are much more likely to report feeling bad
about themselves when no one comments on their posts or feeling left out after seeing photos on
social media of their friends together at something they weren’t invited to.
Teens are often depicted as being heedless of the consequences of spending so much time on their
smartphones. In reality, our survey reveals that teens are fully aware of the power of devices to
distract them from key priorities, such as homework, sleep, and time with friends and family.
Nevertheless, teens are spending far more time on social media than ever before. The percentage
of teens who engage with social media multiple times a day has gone from 34 percent in 2012 to
70 percent in 2018. And whereas Facebook once played a commanding role, with 68 percent of
teens in 2012 turning to the platform as their main social media outlet, today’s teens have moved
on to newer platforms, especially Snapchat and Instagram.
With the ever-shifting social media landscape, our research has never been more critical. As
new platforms emerge, our reviewers at Common Sense Media and Common Sense Education
help keep parents and educators informed of the strengths and shortcomings of the latest crop
of social media tools, giving us important information to guide our children toward the best
possible experience, as well as an understanding of what to watch out for. The insights contained
in this report also fuel our advocacy efforts to minimize the harmful aspects of social media while
promoting its potential to support our children and their connection to their communities.
This is why the Common Sense Research program exists: to inform and enrich conversations we
have about kids’ use of media and its effects on their social and emotional well-being. Though the
insights presented here haven’t been condensed into a 140-character summary or a 15-second
video, I promise they will be well worth your time.
James P. Steyer,
founder and CEO
A LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER
common sense is grateful for the generous support
and underwriting that funded this research report:
Jennifer Caldwell and John H.N. FisherEva and Bill Price
Carnegie Corporation of New YorkCraig Newmark Philanthropies。