New Data on How Teens Are Using Social Media and AI

If it feels like the digital world your teen is navigating is changing faster than you can keep up, you’re not imagining it. While social media platforms may look largely the same on the surface, how teens are using them is shifting in important ways. 

Pew Research Center recently surveyed U.S. teens about their use of social media and AI. Social media use has mostly plateaued, but attitudes toward these platforms have become more negative. At the same time, use of AI chatbots has exploded, with many teens turning to AI not just for homework help, but for companionship and emotional support. 

That combination creates new risks for kids and challenges for parents. Here are the most important findings from Pew’s data, what’s changed, and what these trends mean for your child’s safety, mental health, and development.

Recent trends in teen social media use 

Aside from unsurprising downward shifts in Facebook and X use, and a slight uptick in TikTok and WhatsApp, teen engagement with social media hasn’t changed much. 

Declining: Facebook and X 

Social media OGs Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) continue to hemorrhage teen users. 

Facebook

• Once upon a time, Facebook was the platform for teens; just a decade ago, 71% of teens were on the site.
• Today, only three-in-ten teens use Facebook, on par with 2022 data. 

X (formerly Twitter)

• In 2014-2015, 33% of teens used X.
• In 2022, that number was down to 23%.
• Today, only 16% of teens report using X.

Growing: WhatsApp and TikTok

The two platforms that stand out for growth among teen users are WhatsApp and TikTok.

WhatsApp

• In 2022, only 17% of U.S. teens were on WhatsApp. 
• Today, roughly one quarter of teens report using it.
• The increase is concerning given the safety risks teens face on the app. 

TikTok

• The number of overall teen TikTok users is relatively unchanged in recent years. 
• Heavy users have increased, though; 21% of teens use TikTok “almost constantly,” up from 16% in 2022. 

Stable: Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat

A majority of U.S. teens still use YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.

• Instagram use remains stable at 63%.
• 92% are on YouTube, consistent with recent years. 
• 55% report being on Snapchat, with no change from 2024. 

Teen’s shifting attitudes toward social media 

How teens use social media hasn’t changed much lately, but research reveals that their attitudes about it are starting to shift.

• Around 1 in 5 teens say social media negatively impacts their mental health. 
• Nearly half (48%) feel social media negatively affects their peers, up from 32% in 2022.
• 45% say they spend too much time on social media (a 9% increase from 2022). 
• 44% have attempted to cut back on their social media use. 

Rising usage: Teens and AI chatbots 

For the first time, Pew included questions about AI chatbots and found that teens have taken to them like wildfire. This is alarming, considering that AI platforms frequently fail to deliver the safeguards they promise. 

• 64% of teens say they’ve used an AI chatbot.
• Nearly 3 in 10 report daily use. 
• 16% say they use them almost constantly.
• ChatGPT is the most popular AI chatbot among teens, at 59%, followed by Gemini (23%) and Meta AI (20%).

Concerning data: Teens and AI companions

Even more worrisome is how often teens use AI for companionship. For this, we also looked to a recent assessment by Common Sense Media. 

• 75% of teens use AI for companionship, including emotional and mental health support.
• Most popular chatbots fail to respond to red flags such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
• The empathetic tone of a chatbot can mislead teens into trusting it, creating the illusion of competent help while delaying real intervention. 

How can I help my teen navigate social media and AI safely? 

Social media and AI aren’t going anywhere (as much as some of us might wish). Both types of platforms are deeply intertwined with kids’ lives. It’s vital you’re proactive in helping your child maneuver these spaces. Here are my top four tips for keeping your teen safe on social media and AI: 

1. Digital literacy is key

Educate your child about the dangers of social media and AI. Teach them how to spot things like predators on social media, AI hallucinations, and signs of digital addiction. Your child is a partner on this journey, and the more they know, the more they can take an active role in their own health and safety. 

2. Set limits 

Decide when and how your child is allowed to use social media and AI, as well as what’s not okay. Be clear about expectations and consider writing them into a digital contract. 

3. Use parental controls 

Take advantage of the parental controls available on social media platforms, your child’s device, and AI chatbots. While these can be useful, know that they aren’t perfect and should not be your only safeguard. 

4. Monitor their use

Keep an eye on how your child uses social media and AI platforms by doing periodic spot checks of their device, combined with a monitoring tool like BrightCanary. 

In short

Social media use among teens remains mostly stagnant when compared to previous years, but use of AI chatbots is on the rise. This is troubling considering the risks kids face on AI platforms and the relative lack of safeguards. Teens also express increasing concerns about how social media impacts their mental health. It’s important to educate your child about how to stay safe on these platforms, set limits, use parental controls, and monitor their use. 

BrightCanary helps you monitor your child’s activity on the apps they use the most, including everything they type on social media and AI. Download today to get started for free.