Stresses & Distraction Online

Majorities of teens credit social media with strengthening their friendships and providing support while also noting the emotionally charged side of these platforms.

80% of Americans say social media platforms are very or somewhat effective for raising public awareness about political or social issues.

Many social media users in the United States are exhausted by how much political content they see on these platforms.

From distractions to jealousy, how Americans navigate cellphones and social media in their romantic relationships.

66% of Americans feel worn out by the amount of news there is these days – a feeling that has persisted for several years now.

Roughly half of U.S. teens say they spend too much time on their cellphones, and two-thirds of parents express concern over their teen’s screen time. But parents face their own challenges of device-related distraction.

Most Americans like their choices in today's information-saturated world. But 20% feel overloaded, and there are stresses for those with fewer pathways to the internet or who feel they are expected to do too much information gathering.

Frequent use of social media is not directly related to higher stress. But stress can be contagious through social media channels: Social media users are often more aware of the stressful events in others' lives, and this awareness itself can lead to higher stress.