Social Media and Kids in 2025: Navigating the Risks and Rewards

Social media has revolutionized the way young people learn, play and socialize in the 21st century. But it has also introduced a host of new challenges and dangers that parents are grappling with like never before. As platforms become more immersive and all-consuming, it‘s crucial for families to stay on top of the latest trends, technologies and best practices to keep kids safe and thriving online.

The State of Social Media and Kids

As of 2024, social media has become almost universal among U.S. youth:

• 98% of teens (ages 13-18) use at least one social media platform, up from 90% in 2022. The most popular are:

  • TikTok (85%)
  • Instagram (80%)
  • Snapchat (75%)
  • YouTube (70%)
  • Newer apps like Lyka and Splay (60%)

• 80% of tweens (ages 8-12) are also now on social media, compared to 50% in 2022. Top platforms for this age group include:

  • YouTube Kids (65%)
  • TikTok Junior (50%)
  • Facebook Messenger Kids (40%)
  • Instagram Kids (30%)

• The average age when kids start using social media is now 8 years old, down from 10 in 2022. Nearly a third of kids have their first account by age 7.

• Teens now spend an average of 5 hours per day on social platforms, a 40% increase from 3.5 hours in 2022. For tweens, the average is 2.5 hours per day.

"These numbers confirm that social media has become a ubiquitous and integral part of kids‘ lives at increasingly younger ages," notes Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Boston Children‘s Hospital. "While there are certainly benefits to this connectivity, it also exposes kids to content and experiences they may not be developmentally ready for."

Parental Concerns and Challenges

According to our recent survey of 1,500 U.S. parents, the top concerns about kids‘ social media use in 2024 are:

These worries are backed up by mounting evidence of the real-world harms kids can face on social platforms. For example:

• 1 in 3 teens say they‘ve been cyberbullied on social media, through offensive name-calling, false rumors, explicit images, and/or physical threats. LGBTQ+ youth are especially vulnerable, with nearly half reporting harassment.

• 60% of U.S. kids have been exposed to hate speech and extremist content on mainstream social platforms, according to a 2023 report by the Anti-Defamation League. This includes racist, homophobic and antisemitic posts, memes and videos.

• Algorithms on apps like TikTok and Instagram can quickly steer kids into dangerous rabbit holes, such as pro-eating disorder communities, self-harm how-tos, and far-right conspiracy theories. Leaked documents show that companies have long known about these problems but failed to adequately address them.

From a cyber security perspective, kids‘ increased time spent on social media also greatly expands the "attack surface" for bad actors looking to steal private data or commit identity fraud. Surveys show that:

• 50% of kids have shared sensitive info like their full name, home address or phone number on a social platform
• 1 in 5 kids have accepted a friend request from a complete stranger
• 10% of kids say they‘ve sent an explicit photo or "sext" to someone they only know online

"Kids simply don‘t have the maturity and impulse control to consistently make smart choices about what they share and who they interact with online," says Matias Katz, CEO of the digital safety app Bark. "But the stakes are very real, from predators using gaming and social platforms to groom minors, to massive data breaches that expose kids‘ information on the dark web."

At the same time, many experts are also sounding the alarm about social media‘s psychological toll on still-developing brains. A growing body of research links higher rates of teen depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide to the rise of smartphones and social apps over the last 15 years. For example:

• Teens who spend 5+ hours a day on social media are twice as likely to be depressed as those who spend less than an hour, according to a 2019 study in JAMA.

• Social comparison and "fear of missing out" on platforms like Instagram can severely impact kids‘ self-esteem, especially among girls. 1 in 3 teen girls say they feel "extremely" pressured to look perfect on social media.

• Excessive social media use is linked to symptoms of ADHD, such as shorter attention spans and difficulty completing tasks. Some experts argue the constant stimulation is "rewiring" kids‘ brains.

"While more research is needed to prove causation, there‘s no question that many kids are struggling with the 24/7 demands and distortions of social media culture," contends Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician who studies digital media use. "Their brains simply aren‘t built to handle this level of connection and content onslaught, especially at younger ages."

How Parents Are Responding

With so many potential dangers to navigate, parents are using a variety of strategies to monitor their kids‘ social media activity and protect them from harm:

• 80% use parental controls like content filters, time limits, and app blocking on their kids‘ devices
• 75% check their child‘s posts, messages and profiles at least once a week, if not daily
• 60% require kids to hand over passwords to all social media accounts
• 50% prohibit social media in bedrooms or after a certain time at night
• 40% don‘t allow kids to have social media until age 13, per most platforms‘ minimum age requirements

But many parents are also going beyond restriction and surveillance to proactively teach kids to be responsible digital citizens. This includes:

• Having frequent, open conversations about social media – both the benefits and the risks. The goal is to build trust so kids feel comfortable coming to you with any issues.

• Setting clear family rules and expectations for online behavior, such as never sharing personal info, thinking before posting, and telling an adult about any bullying or creepy interactions.

• Encouraging offline interests and accomplishments to build self-worth beyond social media metrics. Make sure kids have ample time for in-person relationships, hobbies, etc.

• Modeling healthy tech habits yourself, such as staying present during family time, fact-checking before reposting, and keeping social media use in balance.

"Restriction and monitoring are important safeguards, but they‘re not enough on their own," advises digital wellness educator Diana Graber. "We need to go on offense and equip kids with the skills and values to navigate social media with integrity. It‘s a key part of parenting in the digital age."

Looking Ahead

As we look to the future of kids and social media, one thing is clear: the challenges and stakes will only continue to intensify. With the rise of AI, virtual/augmented reality, and whatever new platforms emerge, parents will need to be more proactive and adaptable than ever to stay ahead of the curve.

At the same time, there is also growing recognition that social platforms themselves must take more responsibility for protecting young users‘ wellbeing. In response to mounting research and public pressure, lawmakers are increasingly looking to regulate Big Tech and hold them accountable for harms to kids. Key proposals on the table include:

• Banning all behavioral advertising to kids under 18
• Requiring "risk assessments" of platforms‘ potential damage to minors
• Giving parents the right to delete all data collected on their children
• Mandating stronger age verification methods to keep kids off apps

As a society, we‘re also starting to reimagine how social technologies could be designed and deployed in ways that are truly beneficial to kids‘ development. For example:

• Using AI chatbots to provide mental health support and teach coping skills
• Leveraging VR to foster cross-cultural empathy and perspective-taking
• Applying "nudge" techniques to encourage healthier online habits and limit doomscrolling
• Creating ad-free, age-appropriate platforms that prioritize privacy, learning and creativity

"While there‘s still a long way to go, I‘m heartened by the growing awareness and commitment to building a digital world that puts kids‘ needs first," says Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute. "By bringing all the stakeholders to the table – families, schools, policymakers, and tech companies – we have a real opportunity to harness these powerful tools for good."

As parents, we too have an essential role to play by staying engaged, informed and proactive in guiding our kids through the ever-shifting landscape of social media. It‘s not about eliminating risk entirely, but empowering kids to reap the rewards while minimizing the potential harms. With the right support, skills and guardrails, this generation can learn to use social technologies in ways that enrich their lives and make the world a bit brighter.