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Five important facts about teenagers' use of social media | Social networks

A survey carried out with young people between 13 and 17 years old revealed the preferences of this part of the population in relation to social networks. The study, carried out by the Pew Research Center, in the United States, points out that the participation of teenagers on Facebook is not as expressive: YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat are the most popular online platforms among them.

In addition, it was possible to discover that the opinion of youth on the effects of these tools on a daily basis is not well defined. Below are five important facts discovered with the survey, conducted during the months of March and April this year, with 743 people, in the United States.

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Social networks that (almost) everyone has used

Social networks that (almost) everyone has used

1. Facebook used by only half of young people

Facebook is a thing of the past for teenagers. In the survey, only 51% of them claim to use the platform. In the 2014-2015 period, that number was around 71%. This year, only 10% of respondents indicated that, among all social networks, Facebook is the one they access the most.

Facebook is only used by 51% of young people Photo: Reproduction / TrinityP3Facebook is only used by 51% of young people Photo: Reproduction / TrinityP3

Facebook is only used by 51% of young people Photo: Reproduction / TrinityP3

A curiosity discovered with the survey that the percentage of Facebook users varies significantly according to social class. Among those with the lowest income (below US $ 30,000 / year), 70% of young people say they use it. That number drops to 36% when it comes to teenagers with an annual family income above US $ 75,000.

2. YouTube platform with the most membership

The video sharing platform is the social network most used by young people in 2018, reaching 85% of this portion of the population. Second comes Instagram, used by 72%, and followed soon by Snapchat, which covers 69% of respondents. Facebook appears far below, in fourth place, with the aforementioned 51% adherence among young people.

YouTube, the platform with the most support among teenagers Photo: Carolina Ochsendorf / dnetcYouTube, the platform with the most support among teenagers Photo: Carolina Ochsendorf / dnetc

YouTube, the platform with the most support among teenagers Photo: Carolina Ochsendorf / dnetc

3. Snapchat the most frequently used social network

YouTube may be the most popular service, but Snapchat is the platform most used by 35% of respondents. Then comes the video sharing network, cited by 32% of teenagers. Third, quite distant, is Instagram with 15%.

Snapchat more used than Facebook, and access more often than YouTube Photo: Carolina Ochsendorf / dnetcSnapchat more used than Facebook, and access more often than YouTube Photo: Carolina Ochsendorf / dnetc

Snapchat more used than Facebook, and access more often than YouTube Photo: Carolina Ochsendorf / dnetc

The research also revealed that there is a notable difference in preference according to gender. The most popular Snapchat among girls, being used more constantly by 42% of girls (against 29% of them). YouTube is more preferred among boys: 39% say that the service is the most used by them, with a number that drops to 25% when it comes to girls.

4. 45% of teenagers are online almost constantly

The popularity of smartphones and the mobile Internet has resulted in an almost constant online presence of a large portion of the young population. According to the survey, 45% of respondents said they were always online, almost double the result obtained in 2014-2015, when only 24% said so. Girls seem to be more connected than boys: half of them confirm that they are in the network quite regularly, against 39% of them.

5. Only 31% believe that social networks have a mostly positive effect

The opinion of young people about the effect of social networks seems to be poorly defined. Only 31% of adolescents believe that they have a mostly positive effect, against 24% who think they have a negative influence. There are those who sit on the fence: the majority (45%) believe that these platforms do not intervene in a positive or negative way.

31% of young people believe that social networks have a positive effect Photo: Carolina Oliveira / dnetc31% of young people believe that social networks have a positive effect Photo: Carolina Oliveira / dnetc

31% of young people believe that social networks have a positive effect Photo: Carolina Oliveira / dnetc

Most social network optimists (40%) cited the possibility of connecting with friends and parents as the greatest benefit. In contrast, bullying and the spread of rumors were seen as the worst effects among 27% of young people who believe in the harmful potential of these tools.