How Teens Are Really Using Social Media By Katie Lepi

A lot of kids are using social media these days, and even if that isn’t surprising to you, it may be surprising to you just how many of them are using it and just how much. Leveraging these popular social media tools in the classroom is a no-brainer: everything from Twitter and Facebook all the way to Instagram have found their way into lesson plans across the globe. Whether you’re using all of the social media sites, some of them, or none of them at all, chances are that your students are using them. 

The handy infographic below takes a look at the social media use of teens and tweens: What platforms are they using and how much? What is appropriate for them? How can you monitor their use and ensure their safety? Keep reading to learn more

Teens and Social Media

• 95% of teens (12-17) use the internet
• 81% use social media (compared with 72% of internet users overall)
• 50% log into social media more than once per day
• 21% of kids under 13 use social media sites
• 26% of kids under 13 have a YouTube account
• In a survey of girls aged 6-12 33% said they were saving their money to buy new technology
• 20% said they were saving for a smartphone
• 48% said that they have a cellphone
• 51% of those said that they have a smartphone
• The majority of teens are using laptops (35%) and tablets (32%) to access their favorite websites
• YouTube is the most popular site, with 45% of teens saying they access it most often
• In a survey of kids 8-12, 35% said that Facebook was a site that they didn’t use but was more for parents, while 38% said they use and enjoy Facebook
• Only 8% of these kids reported using Twitter
• 23% of tween girls reported Instagram as their favorite app
• Snapchat prohibits users under 13, but since they don’t ask for age at sign up, it is unlikely that this is actually monitored
• Kids can suffer increased narcissism and cyberbullying through increased social media use
• However, it can also help them connect with others, share photos, exchange ideas, and get more involved with their community
• Be aware of privacy settings, parental controls, and have an open conversation with kids about what is appropriate on social media to help keep them safe!