Teens Donвђ™t Seem Super Concerned About Social M... Apr 2026

: Approximately 48% of teens now believe social media has a negative impact on people their age, a significant jump from 32% in 2022.

: Despite the appearance of unconcern, many are taking control. Around 44% of teens report trying to cut back on their social media or smartphone use. Psychological and Structural Drivers

While personal concern remains low, collective concern is rising:

Current research suggests that while U.S. teens are increasingly aware of the broader societal risks of social media, they often maintain a "privacy paradox"—expressing concern for their reputations while remaining largely indifferent to data collection by major tech companies. Recent surveys from the Pew Research Center and Common Sense Media highlight a shifting landscape of digital awareness as of 2024–2025.

Experts point to several reasons why teens may seem unconcerned:

: Only about 9% of teens are "very" concerned about third-party access to their data. Many view data tracking as a necessary trade-off for free access to platforms like TikTok and Instagram.