The Rise of Instagram, Fall of Snapchat: Pew’s Take on Teen Social Media in 2024

According to a new Pew Research Center report, teen usage of social media apps has declined this year. The survey was based on 1391 US teens between the ages of 13 to 17 and it was conducted online through Ipsos’ Knowledge Panel. Even though teenagers constantly used their mobile phones, their time on some big social media apps decreased. For instance, 93% of teens used YouTube in 2023 but now its usage has declined to 90% in 2024. On the other hand, 71% teens daily viewed YouTube in 2023 and now their percentage has increased to 73% in 2024. Snapchat was another app that saw some decline in its usage in 2024. 55% teens used Snapchat in 2024 as compared to 60% in 2023. X saw a 3% decline, going from 20% in 2023 to 17% in 2024.

The apps that teens used steadily in 2024 were TikTok (63%) and Reddit (14%). The app that saw some gains in its usage was Instagram, which went from 59% in 2023 to 61% in 2024. Another app, WhatsApp, also climbed from 20% in 2023 to 23% in 2024. Even though Instagram gained some popularity in 2024, Threads still has a small number of users (6%). Pew Research center didn't talk about any X alternatives like Bluseky in their survey, as well as other platforms like Twitch and Discord.

The survey found that even though many teens are not spending as much time on social media as before, this doesn't mean their screen time has decreased. 46% teens reported always being online in 2022 and 2023, with Hispanic (58%) and Black (53%) being the chronically online internet users. 37% of White teens reported that they are constantly online according to a survey. There was no gender breakdown that Pew provided in the report.

95% of teens use their smartphones for their online activity while 88% reported using their desktop or laptops. Some teens also use their gaming consoles (83%) and tablets (70%) to spend their time online. According to a Pew study in 2022, teens said that they love being online because it helps them stay connected to their friends and provides emotional support. Survey by Family Online Safety also found that staying online helps teens to improve their well being and overall creativity. The latest report by Pew Research Center didn't assess how teenagers feel about staying online.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World