A majority of U.S. parents are keeping a watchful eye on what their teens do on social media; some are also imposing screen time restrictions.

Nearly half of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online, with physical appearance being seen as a relatively common reason why. Older teen girls are especially likely to report being targeted by online abuse overall and because of their appearance.

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

A majority of teens say a welcoming, safe online environment is more important than people being able to speak their minds freely online.

The landscape of social media is ever-changing, especially among teens who often are on the leading edge of this space. A new survey of American teenagers ages 13 to 17 finds that TikTok has established itself as one of the top online platforms for U.S. teens, while the share of teens who use Facebook has fallen sharply.

A majority of teens prefer in-person over virtual or hybrid learning. Hispanic and lower-income teens are particularly likely to fear they’ve fallen behind in school due to COVID-19 disruptions.

Over the years, we have studied how U.S. adults – as well as teens and children – use and engage with Instagram. Here are seven key takeaways.

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.

As schools close and classes and assignments shift online, some students do not have reliable access to the internet at home.

Most cellphone-using teens say their phone is a way to pass time. Similarly large shares use their phone to connect with others or learn new things.