New Delhi: Teens in the United States do not use social media for politics, news, or information. A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that for American teenagers, these online platforms are simply for entertainment to an extent that it even affects their sleep and productivity.
The study compared teens’ experiences on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Researchers Michelle Faverio, Eugenie Park, and Jeffrey Gottfried asked teens between the ages of 13 and 17 years — Why do they use these platforms? The teenagers were given three options: entertainment, keeping up with friends and family, and connecting with others about shared interests.
The survey found that for TikTok, entertainment was the most prominent driving force, whereas for Snapchat, it is where teens primarily connect with friends and family.
How do parents feel about social media?
The American think-tank found that teenage girls spend 33 per cent more time on TikTok than teenage boys (23 per cent). The study added that the teens found that they all felt they spent the “right” amount of time on the site.
The survey conducted from September to October 2025 involved 1,458 dyads. Each pair included one parent per teen. The study titled, “Teens’ Experiences on TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat”, takes a deep dive into the three major platforms to understand how and why teens use these sites differently.
The Pew survey noted that most teens are not using social media for politics or world news. Instead, American teens are making friends on Snapchat and keeping themselves updated about celebrities through TikTok and Instagram. Approximately 57 per cent of teens said that they message their friends every day on Snapchat, among them, four-in-ten do so several times a day. However, the numbers are fewer for the other two platforms.
In some cases, teenagers find Instagram and TikTok more news-friendly than Snapchat – four-in-ten are on these platforms for news or product reviews. However, across the survey, it was found that Snapchat is only for maintaining and building friendships.
On the other hand, the parents included in the survey felt that their children spent too much time on social media. However, the share who say they use it “too much” is highest among TikTok users, at about 44 per cent, which is lower when compared to the other two platforms. About three out of 10 parents expressed “discomfort” with their kids using TikTok and Snapchat. They feel more comfortable with Instagram.
The research also found that social media engagement neither helps nor hurts teens’ mental health. Although about a quarter of parents claimed that social media hurts their kids’ mental health.
Teen TikTok users, the research found, face a greater negative impact on their sleep than Snapchat and Instagram users. A larger share also reported that TikTok hurts their productivity when compared with the other two platforms.
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Does gender and race play a role
The Pew study tracked social media usage and experience across demographics. “How teens’ experiences on TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat vary by race, ethnicity and gender,” a section of the broader research takes a closer look at how the experiences of an African-American teenager differ from those of a White or Hispanic adolescent.
The research found that more African-American teens use social media platformsm especially TikTok, for news. Whereas, the figures and reasons for Instagram and Snapchat usage do not differ from those of White or Hispanic teens.
A greater number of African-American teenagers are also posting daily, with updates about their favourite athletes and celebrities on TikTok. The research also found that African-American and Hispanic teens are more likely to use direct messages.
Meanwhile, White teens predominantly use Snapchat– around two-thirds.
The research conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs in English and Spanish also found that they have faced harassment and bullying on the platform. The boys and girls said they have experienced this at least once. The study also found that experiences of cyberbullying vary by gender. While 33 per cent of girls talk about rumours spreading about them on Snapchat or TikTok, only 21 per cent of boys have experienced this.
However, previous studies have indicated that girls are more prone to targeted rumours than boys.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)