The majority of American teenagers use YouTube and TikTok daily, according to a report published this Tuesday (9) by the Pew Research Center, and around 1 in 5 said they were on one of the two platforms “almost constantly”.
The study, which analyzed the habits of 1,458 adolescents aged 13 to 17, suggests that despite growing concern about possible mental health risks, young people are not putting their cell phones down and spending much of their time scrolling through social media, watching videos or consulting chatbots powered by artificial intelligence.
While YouTube is by far the most popular platform – used daily by three-quarters of study participants – TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat remain very popular with teenagers. Few people use Facebook.
“About a third of teens say they use at least one of the five (apps) almost constantly — and that number has been steady for a few years,” said Michelle Faverio, a Pew researcher and one of the authors of the new report.
The report also reveals that many teenagers use AI chatbots regularly. Sixty-four percent said they have used an AI chatbot, and 28% said they do so daily. Sixteen percent say they use chatbots several times a day, or almost constantly.
ChatGPT, from OpenAI, was the most used chatbot, followed by Gemini and Meta AI. A much smaller group reported using chatbots like Character.ai.
Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a psychologist in Princeton, New Jersey, who was not involved in the new report, said the findings are not necessarily surprising, although she understands why they might alert parents and guardians.
Kennedy-Moore said one of her main concerns is that children are missing opportunities for in-person connection and friendship, and that chatbots may provide a dynamic that doesn’t help teens develop important social skills.
About The Author
