NEW YORK (Realist English). For the first time, the Pew Research Center conducted a detailed comparison of how teens use three of the most popular social media platforms — TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. It turns out that despite common features, the motives, frequency of use and perceived impact on life differ significantly.
Entertainment, friends and stars: why teens use social media
The main reason for using all three platforms is entertainment. About 90% or more of respondents cited it as a reason. However, for TikTok this factor is most significant: 80% of its users named entertainment as a major reason (compared to 57% for Instagram and 55% for Snapchat).
Keeping up with friends and family is the second most popular reason. Snapchat leads here: 66% of its users consider this a major reason (vs. 46% for Instagram and 45% for TikTok).
Connecting with people who share their interests is also important: about half of teens on each platform use them for this purpose.
TikTok stands out as a platform for product reviews: 61% of its users go there for that (Instagram 44%, Snapchat 31%). News is also more common on TikTok and Instagram: 42% and 38% respectively (Snapchat 25%). Following athletes or celebrities is more popular on Instagram and TikTok (52% and 51%), while on Snapchat only 37% do so. Politics is the least popular: ranging from 18% to 24% depending on the platform.
Frequency of use: Snapchat — king of messaging
Teens on Snapchat are much more active in direct messaging: 57% send messages daily (of which 40% several times a day). On Instagram and TikTok, these figures are significantly lower (30% and 26% respectively). Posting content also happens more often on Snapchat: 28% post daily (17% several times a day). On TikTok and Instagram, only about 20% post regularly.
Screen time: TikTok causes the most concern
When teens were asked whether they spend too much time on social media, TikTok users were the most self‑critical: 30% said they spend too much time on the platform. On Instagram and Snapchat, the figures were 20% and 17% respectively. At the same time, the majority (60–70%) believe they spend the “right amount of time” on each platform.
Impact on sleep, productivity and friendships
TikTok is more often blamed for harming sleep than the other platforms: 40% of its users say it hurts their sleep (for Instagram and Snapchat, about 25%). TikTok also has a more negative effect on productivity: 27% vs. 15–16% for its rivals.
Snapchat, however, is the leader in positive impact on friendships: 44% of teens believe it helps their friendships (Instagram 33%, TikTok 32%). All three platforms rarely harm friendships (no more than 7%).
Mental health and self‑esteem
Most teens on each platform (57% to 63%) say that what they see on the platform makes no difference in how they feel about themselves. When there is an impact, it leans positive: 15% of TikTok users feel better, 3% feel worse (similar on other platforms).
Overall, about 70% of teens on each platform rate their experience as “mostly positive.” Only 3% on each say it is “mostly negative.” However, when parents were asked about the overall impact of social media on their teen, 28% said it hurts their teen’s mental health (compared to 8% who said it helps).
Harassment and bullying
Three‑quarters of users on each platform believe that harassment and bullying are a problem for people their age on these sites. However, personal experience of being harassed varies:
- Snapchat: 30% of its users have experienced at least one of three types of harassment (being called an offensive name, having a rumor spread about them, or being physically threatened).
- Instagram and TikTok: about 20% (roughly one in five).