Teens, Technology and Romantic Relationships
From heart emojis on Instagram to saying goodbye to a relationship with a text message, digital technology plays an important role in teen relationships.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
From heart emojis on Instagram to saying goodbye to a relationship with a text message, digital technology plays an important role in teen relationships.
American teens don’t just make friends in the schoolyard or neighborhood — many are finding new friends online. Video games, social media and mobile phones play an integral role in how teens meet and interact.
While Facebook remains the most popular social media site, other platforms — like LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter — saw higher rates of growth over the past year. In 2014, 52% of online adults used two or more social media sites, up from 42% in 2013.
The internet, cell phones and social media have become key actors in the lives of many American couples. Technology is a source of support and communication as well as tension, and couples say it has both good and bad impacts on their relationships.
Youth are sharing more personal information on their profiles than in the past. They choose private settings for Facebook, but share with large networks of friends.
How American teens navigate the new world of “digital citizenship”
With Facebook’s announcement of the rollout of “Facebook Messages,” we offer our data on teens’ communication landscape as context for understanding the potential implications of the new feature.
More teens are creating and sharing material on the internet. 28% of online teens have blogs, up from 2004 with growth fueled almost entirely by girls. “Super communicators” rise as email fades as a tool for teens.
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.
The majority of teens actively manage their online profiles to keep the information they believe is most sensitive away from the unwanted gaze of strangers, parents and other adults.
1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries
ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
© 2024 Pew Research Center