Ani Petrosyan
Research expert for cybersecurity and cybercrime
Internet usage of teenagers in the United States - Statistics & Facts
Most teenagers today are digital natives, and they are the demographic group that will impact online trends in the near future. In the United States, teens use the internet very frequently – almost half of them are either constantly online or use the internet several times daily, with girls being more likely to use the internet constantly than boys.
Internet usage is projected to grow across all age groups in the upcoming years. With this, new trends, usage patterns, and threats will emerge. When dealing with online threats, the youngest and oldest generations are the most vulnerable demographic groups. Currently, governments worldwide are trying to find ways to protect users by working with parents and tech companies, developing new laws regarding online privacy, and raising awareness. Yet, there is a need for better and more profound regulation of the internet and online platforms without it turning into censorship.
What device do U.S. teenagers use the most?
The majority of teenagers in the United States had access to smartphones at home, with a higher usage rate among those between 15 and 17 years of age, compared to 13 to 14-year-olds. Once again, the percentage of teenage girls using smartphone devices was higher than the percentage of boys. Compared to smartphones, laptop or desktop device access was relatively low. However, similar usage dynamics were observed across devices between the two age groups. Like smartphones, older teens had access to computers more often than the younger ones.Most frequently used social media
Usage of social media is the second-most performed online activity among teenagers in the United States, with Instagram being the platform they claim to use almost constantly. More than 30 percent of U.S. teens also said they visited YouTube and TikTok several times a day, stating these platforms had their favorite content. YouTube is forecast to expand its audience among U.S. teens by 2026 and remain the most popular social media platform.Is social media a safe place for teens?
Along with the increasing power of social media, questions and concerns arise about whether these platforms are a safe place for children and teens. Almost three in ten U.S. adults felt that social media platforms are extremely harmful, an opinion more commonly shared among those aged between 45 and 54. Gen Zers, however, were more likely to think that it was safe for kids and teenagers to be on social media. Regarding the positive sides of social networks, almost half of U.S. teens mention the possibility of making new connections and socializing.Internet usage is projected to grow across all age groups in the upcoming years. With this, new trends, usage patterns, and threats will emerge. When dealing with online threats, the youngest and oldest generations are the most vulnerable demographic groups. Currently, governments worldwide are trying to find ways to protect users by working with parents and tech companies, developing new laws regarding online privacy, and raising awareness. Yet, there is a need for better and more profound regulation of the internet and online platforms without it turning into censorship.
Ani Petrosyan
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Mar 4, 2024
Ani Petrosyan
Research expert for cybersecurity and cybercrime
