Majority of Americans support banning social media for kids under 16
Across major demographic and partisan groups, more Americans support than oppose banning those under 16 from using social media.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Read our research on:
Teens & Youth
All
Teens & Youth
Publications
-
-
Teens’ Experiences on TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat
Teens largely turn to TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat for fun and connection. But experiences around messaging, screen time and cyberbullying vary. And what teens say about how these sites impact their mental health.
-
How Teens Use and View AI
Just over half of U.S. teens say they’ve used chatbots for help with schoolwork, and 12% say they’ve gotten emotional support from these tools. Teens tend to view AI’s future impact on their lives more positively than negatively.
-
About 4 in 10 teens support cellphone bans in classrooms; fewer back all-day restrictions
About one-in-five teens support banning cellphones during the entire school day, including at lunch and between classes.
-
Teens, Social Media and AI Chatbots 2025
Roughly one-in-five U.S. teens say they are on TikTok and YouTube almost constantly. At the same time, 64% of teens say they use chatbots, including about three-in-ten who do so daily.
-
12th grade girls are less likely than boys to say they want to get married someday
67% of 12th graders say they’ll likely choose to get married someday, down from 80% in 1993. The decline reflects shifting views among girls.
-
10 facts about teens and social media
Nine-in-ten U.S. teens say they use YouTube. Majorities also use TikTok (63%), Instagram (61%) and Snapchat (55%).
-
Are children better off when one parent has a job or when both do? U.S. teens differ in their views
In the U.S., 43% of teenagers say children are better off when one parent doesn’t have a job and focuses on the family.
-
Teens, Social Media and Mental Health
Parents are more worried than teens about teen mental health. Both groups – especially parents – partly blame social media. But teens also see benefits.
-
U.S. adults differ in how much they say certain things should be emphasized for boys and girls
Similar shares of adults say there’s too little emphasis on encouraging boys and girls to be leaders.
