How do teens feel about social media? The impact of social media on our youth today remains a hot topic with parents, educators, mental health professionals, and lawmakers. Perhaps it is time to ask our younger generation their latest thoughts and feelings about their time and involvement in social media.

The PEW Research latest survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 and their parents finds that parents are generally more worried than their children about the mental health of teenagers today. While this is not unusual, both groups are currently are calling out social media’s impact on young people’s well-being, with teens becoming increasingly aware of the negative aspects of their involvement.

DIffering Perspectives: Youth versus Parents

Similar to the last PEW survey in 2022, more teens think social media have a negative effect on people their age rather than on them personally. About half of teens (48%) say social media platforms have a mostly negative effect on people their age. Meanwhile, 14% see a mostly negative impact for themselves, up slightly from 9% in 2022.

The most common teen response falls into the neutral category. About six-in-ten teens (58%) say the effect on them is neither positive nor negative. However, teens’ views of the impact of social media on their peers has grown increasingly negative. The share who say these sites have a mostly negative effect on people their age is up 16 percentage points since 2022. and at the same time, the share who believe these platforms have a mostly positive effect on people their age decreased from 24% in 2022 to 11% in our current survey.

Impact on mental health, friendships, sleep

Parental Belief about what contributes the most to teens’ mental health?

This PEW Research report discusses additional aspects of social media on teen attitudes and behaviors and parental concerns over the last 2 years.

Link to study:
Teens, Social Media and Mental Health Published April 22, 2025.

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