Teens’ Experiences on TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat

Teens largely turn to TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat for fun and connection. But experiences around messaging, screen time and cyberbullying vary. And what teens say about how these sites impact their mental health.

Within the big universe that is social media, every site is its own unique world for teens.

For the first time, Pew Research Center went deeper into comparing teens’ experiences on three widely used platforms: TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. And while similarities exist, how and why teens use these sites differ in many ways.

When we ask teens why they use these platforms, three reasons rise to the top. Roughly nine-in-ten or more say entertainment is a reason they use TikTok, Instagram or Snapchat.