Research Review: Pew Research Center (2022). Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022

Research & Statistics
Written By Christopher McCallum

Study in Plain English

  • Who & What: Pew surveyed U.S. teens (ages 13–17) about social media and technology use.

  • Method: Nationally representative survey of 1,316 teens.

  • Key Findings:

    • 95% use YouTube, 67% TikTok, 62% Instagram, 59% Snapchat.

    • Facebook has plummeted from 71% (2015) to 32%.

    • 46% of teens say they are online “almost constantly.”

    • Platform use differs by gender, race, income, and parental education.

  • Why It Matters: This is the baseline report most media, researchers, and policymakers cite when describing teen digital life.

Little Dopes Commentary

  • Practical Meaning: Parents should know where teens actually spend time — it’s YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat, not Facebook.

  • Parent Angle: “Almost constant” connectivity means online boundaries are as important as offline ones.

  • Context: Aligns with the Surgeon General (2023) concerns about overuse, and complements Orben (2022) showing risk peaks at certain ages.

  • Limitations: Self-reported survey, U.S. only, doesn’t measure outcomes (just usage).

References

  • Pew Research Center. (2022). Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/

Christopher McCallum https://littledopes.com
Next

Research Review: U.S. Surgeon General (2023). Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory