Teens and Video Games Today
85% of U.S. teens say they play video games. They see both positive and negative sides, from making friends to harassment and sleep loss.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
85% of U.S. teens say they play video games. They see both positive and negative sides, from making friends to harassment and sleep loss.
Majorities of teens credit social media with strengthening their friendships and providing support while also noting the emotionally charged side of these platforms.
Two-thirds of parents in the U.S. say parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, with many citing technologies – like social media or smartphones – as a reason.
A majority of online daters say their overall experience was positive, but many users – particularly younger women – report being harassed or sent explicit messages on these platforms.
59% of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online, and a similar share says it’s a major problem for people their age. At the same time, teens mostly think teachers, social media companies and politicians are failing at addressing this issue.
Teens credit social media for helping to build stronger friendships and exposing them to a more diverse world, but they express concern that these sites lead to drama and social pressure.
YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat are the most popular online platforms among teens. Fully 95% of teens have access to a smartphone and 45% say they are online almost constantly.
How American teens navigate the new world of “digital citizenship”
Text messaging explodes as teens embrace it as the centerpiece of their communication strategies with friends.
About a third of online teens say they have been targets of online harassement. Older girls and intense internet users are the most likely to report these experiences.
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