Over 15% of Teenagers Report Being Virtually Glued to YouTube or TikTok ‘Almost Constantly’

Adolescents in the United States exhibit a profound affinity for YouTube and TikTok, with almost 20% indicating they use these video-streaming applications “almost constantly,” according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center that explores the online habits of teenagers. The findings reveal that YouTube stands as the preeminent platform among U.S. teens, with an impressive 93% regularly engaging with Google’s video-streaming service. Of this percentage, approximately 16% of teens express using YouTube almost constantly, underscoring the platform’s substantial popularity among the younger demographic.

TikTok emerges as the second most favored app, drawing 63% of teenage users, followed closely by Snapchat and Meta’s Instagram, capturing 60% and 59%, respectively. Within the 63% of teens who use TikTok, 17% claim to access the short-video platform almost constantly. Notably, Facebook and Twitter (now X) have experienced waning popularity among U.S. teens compared to a decade ago, with Facebook usage plummeting from 71% in 2014-2015 to a mere 33% today. Instagram, also owned by Meta, saw an increase from 52% in 2014-15 to a peak of 62% last year but has since declined to 59% in 2023.

The study discerns gender-based preferences, revealing that teenage girls are more inclined to use apps like BeReal, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook, while teenage boys exhibit a stronger preference for video game-centric messaging and social apps such as Discord and Twitch. An exploration of race and ethnicity illuminates disparities, with around 80% of Black teenagers favoring TikTok, compared to 70% of Hispanic teens and 57% of white teens. Hispanic teens also demonstrate a higher propensity for using Meta-owned WhatsApp compared to their Black or white counterparts.

In essence, the recent analysis of teen social media usage closely mirrors last year’s findings, indicating minimal changes in teens’ digital habits over the past year. The survey, conducted between September 26, 2023, and October 23, 2023, garnered responses from nearly 1,500 adolescents aged 13 to 17.