CNN (4/22, Duffy ) says that nearly half of US teens believe social media negatively affects youth mental health, according to a Pew Research Center report published Tuesday. The survey found that 48% of teens view social media as “mostly negative,” an increase from 32% in 2022. Meanwhile, 14% of teens feel social media negatively impacts them personally, up from 9% in 2022. About 45% acknowledge “they spend too much time on social media, up from 36% in 2022. And 44% of teen respondents said they have cut back on time spent on social media and their smartphones.”
The report highlights “that the effects of social media vary somewhat by gender and race and ethnicity,” with teen girls slightly more likely “to say social media has hurt the amount of sleep they get, their productivity, their mental health and their confidence.” The survey of 1,391 teens ages 13 to 17 and their parents was conducted in September and October 2024.
Related Links:
— “Nearly half of teens say social media is bad for youth mental health, report finds,” Clare Duffy, CNN, April 22, 2025