{"id":92746,"date":"2022-11-16T09:57:15","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T14:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2022\/11\/16\/focus-groups-social-media-stirs-a-range-of-emotions-and-reactions-in-teens\/"},"modified":"2025-01-23T09:44:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T14:44:24","slug":"focus-groups-social-media-stirs-a-range-of-emotions-and-reactions-in-teens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2022\/11\/16\/focus-groups-social-media-stirs-a-range-of-emotions-and-reactions-in-teens\/","title":{"rendered":"3. Focus groups: Social media stirs a range of emotions and reactions in teens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-style-callout is-style-300-wide has-beige-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 id=\"key-themes-in-focus-group-discussions-among-teens-about-the-role-of-social-media-intheir-lives\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key themes in focus group discussions among teens about the role of social media in<br>their lives<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-sans-serif-font-family wp-block-list\" style=\"font-size:14px\">\n<li>Teens\u2019 reactions to what they see on social media and how they feel about posting run the emotional gamut from anxiety to excitement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teens have appreciation for social connectivity on these platforms but also concerns about drama, unrealistic expectations and bullies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Different social media platforms serve different purposes for teens like general socializing, entertainment and direct personal communication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teens acknowledge the tensions of \u201ccancel culture\u201d on social media<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teens have a range of definitions for digital privacy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Activism is a draw for some teens on social media<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some teens say their use of social media changed during the pandemic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teens detail how their lives would change if social media disappeared overnight<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Teens can have a wide spectrum of experiences on social media and an extensive range of feelings about what happens to them on these platforms. A <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1vVAtMCQnz8WVxtSNQev_e1cGmY9rnY96ecYuAj6C548\/edit\">variety of studies<\/a> have explored the impact of social media and the internet on teens, including articles about technology\u2019s possible links to teens\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1diMvsMeRphUH7E6D1d_J7R6WbDdgnzFHDHPx9HXzR5o\/edit\">mood disorders <\/a>and other <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1w-HOfseF2wF9YIpXwUUtP65-olnkPyWcgF5BiAtBEy0\/edit\">mental health<\/a> issues. To understand the ways teens think about these matters, Pew Research Center conducted four focus groups that covered the purposes and contexts of their use of social media. Some of the main takeaways from the groups are highlighted in the box on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;teens-reactions-to-what-they-see-on-social-media-and-how-they-feel-about-posting-run-the-emotional-gamut-from-anxiety-to-excitement&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"teens-reactions-to-what-they-see-on-social-media-and-how-they-feel-about-posting-run-the-emotional-gamut-from-anxiety-to-excitement\">Teens\u2019 reactions to what they see on social media and how they feel about posting run the emotional gamut from anxiety to excitement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The teens in the focus groups generally do not report they have uniformly bad or good experiences with social media. They say they have several kinds of social and educational experiences, and their responses to questions about their use of social media and its impact vary depending on the context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several parts of the focus group encounters touch on some possible emotions teen might have as they use social media. Here are some of the highlights:[6.numoffset=&#8221;6&#8243; Quotations in this report may have been lightly edited for grammar, spelling and clarity.] <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/11\/teens-social-connection-Illustration1_640a.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28855\" width=\"640\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-114595\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2022\/11\/16\/focus-groups-social-media-stirs-a-range-of-emotions-and-reactions-in-teens\/1anxious_nov15-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"000000\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" style=\"--dominant-color: #000000;\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/1Anxious_Nov15.png?w=105\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-114595 has-transparency\" width=\"25\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/1Anxious_Nov15.png 105w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/1Anxious_Nov15.png?resize=75,75 75w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 105px) 100vw, 105px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-640-wide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-57e2cd67 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Anxious: <\/strong><em>\u201cPeople try to be social-media perfect. They live outside the real world and live more in social media. Is this [moment in my life] social media-worthy? Everything is gauged with that. So, that\u2019s<\/em> <em>something I feel, people are no longer as real as they\u2019re supposed to be. They just want to be picture perfect.\u201d <\/em>\u2013 <em>Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-114597\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2022\/11\/16\/focus-groups-social-media-stirs-a-range-of-emotions-and-reactions-in-teens\/2sad_nov15-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"000000\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" style=\"--dominant-color: #000000;\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/2Sad_Nov15.png?w=105\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-114597 has-transparency\" width=\"25\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/2Sad_Nov15.png 105w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/2Sad_Nov15.png?resize=75,75 75w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 105px) 100vw, 105px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sad: <\/strong><em>\u201cOne time, my friends posted without me and I felt excluded, which made me sad. &#8230; They all hung out without me and were posting on social media.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-114598\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2022\/11\/16\/focus-groups-social-media-stirs-a-range-of-emotions-and-reactions-in-teens\/3jealous_nov15-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"000000\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" style=\"--dominant-color: #000000;\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/3Jealous_Nov15.png?w=105\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-114598 has-transparency\" width=\"25\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/3Jealous_Nov15.png 105w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/3Jealous_Nov15.png?resize=75,75 75w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 105px) 100vw, 105px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Jealous: <\/strong><em>\u201cPeople who are actually making money off social media and you\u2019re like, I\u2019m so broke and they have a lot of money. So, sometimes you can feel jealous.\u201d <\/em>\u2013 <em>Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And on the positive side:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-114600\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2022\/11\/16\/focus-groups-social-media-stirs-a-range-of-emotions-and-reactions-in-teens\/4excited_nov15-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"000000\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" style=\"--dominant-color: #000000;\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/4Excited_Nov15.png?w=105\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-114600 has-transparency\" width=\"25\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/4Excited_Nov15.png 105w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/4Excited_Nov15.png?resize=75,75 75w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 105px) 100vw, 105px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Excited: <\/strong><em>\u201cSometimes I\u2019ll find out news when I\u2019m on social media. Like, something good that happened \u2026 whether it\u2019s something personal, or if it\u2019s something public for the world and it makes me excited.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-114604\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2022\/11\/16\/focus-groups-social-media-stirs-a-range-of-emotions-and-reactions-in-teens\/5happy_nov15-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"000000\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" style=\"--dominant-color: #000000;\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/5Happy_Nov15.png?w=105\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-114604 has-transparency\" width=\"25\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/5Happy_Nov15.png 105w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/5Happy_Nov15.png?resize=75,75 75w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 105px) 100vw, 105px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Happy: <\/strong><em>\u201cYes, so I\u2019ll be scrolling through TikTok, and then I see a wholesome moment or something like that like someone being kind to one another, that just makes me happy.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These observations come from four virtual focus groups conducted Jan. 12-13, 2022, that were managed by PSB Insights. Each group was convened with a moderator and four participants for a total of 16 participants overall. The groups were split by gender and age group. Recruitment aimed at getting insights from a diverse range of teens from different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. For details on how the discussions were facilitated, <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2022\/11\/16\/appendix-b-focus-groups-methodology\/\">see Appendix B<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/11\/teens-social-connection-Illustration2_640a.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28856\" width=\"640\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;teens-have-appreciation-for-social-connectivity-on-these-platforms-but-also-concerns-about-drama,-unrealistic-expectations-and-bullies&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"teens-have-appreciation-for-social-connectivity-on-these-platforms-but-also-concerns-about-drama,-unrealistic-expectations-and-bullies\">Teens have appreciation for social connectivity on these platforms but also concerns about drama, unrealistic expectations and bullies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Teens have been asked by the Center and others about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/parenting\/wp\/2018\/03\/19\/5-ways-social-media-can-be-good-for-teens\/\">good<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2018\/09\/27\/a-majority-of-teens-have-experienced-some-form-of-cyberbullying\/\">bad sides of social media<\/a> for years. In these focus groups they are fluent about the difficult and delightful parts of connectivity. Some started their overview of the role of social media in their lives by highlighting their ability to communicate with others on social platforms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI love the fact that social media has no boundaries. The fact you can communicate with people around the world is something really, really amazing, because you can just be at the comfort of your home and you could talk to someone that\u2019s in Italy, in Rome, anywhere in this world \u2013 as long as they have access to social media.\u201d<\/em> <em>\u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI\u2019ve liked, especially during the pandemic, being able to communicate with my friends more, since I couldn\u2019t see them in person. And then also, having something to watch to entertain me, which was good, because we were just stuck at home.\u201d<\/em> <em>\u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to mentioning social media as a means of communication, some teens also discussed how educational social media can be, specifically noting how social media can help them learn about others\u2019 cultures and their perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c<em>What I like about TikTok and YouTube and Instagram and stuff like that [is that] you get to see other people\u2019s perspectives and how they think, instead of just always listening to your thoughts.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cSo, what I like about social media is it makes it easy to connect with the people from different parts of the world \u2026 it helps you to experience cultures from around the world, such as people\u2019s dressing, what they eat, and you also get a chance to know that, oh, I have to visit this place.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What don\u2019t they like about social media? Peer pressure or cultural expectations that people should look and act a certain way. One older girl offers this concern:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI also feel like social media sets up unhealthy expectations for your body or your lifestyle. I know a lot of people feel [insecure because] of Instagram influencers or celebrities, of having a dream body or something, or their lifestyles. That they\u2019re always at parties, or drinking.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/11\/teens-social-connection-Illustration3_250a.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28857\" width=\"250\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the issue of teens trying to live up to their own and others\u2019 expectations, some teens talked about their anxiety from seeing drama and negativity on social media and watching bullies go after others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cSometimes there can be drama or some problems on social media that I\u2019ve seen. And sometimes it can cause drama with my friends, but also drama with influencers and stuff.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cSometimes it could be really anonymous, and people can say stuff about \u2026 you or other people and you don\u2019t know who it is.\u201d\u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI agree with the negativity part. It\u2019s just all over at this point. And sometimes the pettiness of some people. Some so-called influencers will have one person that got on their bad side \u2026 and they have their followers just attack on that person for no apparent reason.\u201d\u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cOkay, for me, it is bullies or negative comments or stuff like that, you just see a lot of people hating, under the comments, under your posts and stuff like that.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"efefef\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #efefef;\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/11\/teens-social-connection-Illustration4_250a.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28858 not-transparent\" width=\"250\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were other negative aspects of social media that emerged in these teens\u2019 conversations. Here are examples of safety concerns and an encounter with a fake profile on social media:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cLike people just messaging you, and you find out that they aren\u2019t real, like fake people. Fake people are out so much on social media.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cSo, what I don\u2019t like is it\u2019s not really safe to use, because, for instance, you\u2019ll just be there and someone messages you, like a stranger. And I\u2019ve read stories about social media being used to track people and killing them.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d7e0de\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d7e0de;\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/11\/teens-social-connection-Illustration5_640_updated.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28853 not-transparent\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;different-social-media-serve-different-purposes-for-teens-like-general-socializing-entertainment-and-direct-personal-communication&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"different-social-media-serve-different-purposes-for-teens-like-general-socializing-entertainment-and-direct-personal-communication\">Different social media serve different purposes for teens like general socializing, entertainment and direct personal communication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked to think about the role of social media in their communications and information gathering, some of these teens talked about distinctions among platforms when it comes to the tone of the sites, varying purposes and the audiences that different platforms offer them. For some, the breakdown was this: They used Snapchat for communicating with others; TikTok for learning, entertainment and discovering trends; and Instagram for pictures and seeing what others are doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More generally, they reported there are times when they hoped to gain an audience for their ideas and creations and times they wanted to share small-scale, intimate encounters with close friends. They described a communications and media world full of challenging calculations about what they want to share and with whom they want to share it. Here\u2019s how a few teens speak to these themes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cFor me, TikTok is more of a place to watch videos and then Instagram more to see what my friends are up to, and then Snapchat as a way of more direct communication.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c<em>Yes, I mainly use Snapchat to text my friends during school and Snapchat them and after school, just communicate with them. And I use mainly Instagram to just send pictures and stuff to my friends like memes or like clothes.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram were mentioned often throughout the conversations, other social media platforms were part of the mix for some participants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI use Snapchat to communicate with my friends, and I use it every day, just [to] keep in touch with them and I use Instagram to post pictures and show them. And YouTube, I just do it to watch videos and pass time.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI use WhatsApp for chatting a lot; then TikTok I chatted about a bit less, I just do a lot of challenges on TikTok. Instagram, I just watch videos and check the latest trends or just check pictures like that. I think chat will be a bit less, but like WhatsApp is just a full chat service.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI would say Instagram is my home for fashion sense. If I\u2019m trying \u2026 to match up an outfit or come up with something unique to wear, I go on the Explore page on Instagram and you see a lot of content there. So, you can get fashion inspired with nice outfits to put on for events. I feel Snapchat for me, it\u2019s more intimate. People just show off, \u2018Oh, I\u2019m here.\u2019 \u2018If you\u2019re at this location, we could meet,\u2019 and stuff like that.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f8f7f6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f8f7f6;\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/11\/teens-social-connection-Illustration6_640a.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28860 not-transparent\" width=\"640\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;teens-acknowledge-the-tensions-of-cancel-culture-on-social-media&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"teens-acknowledge-the-tensions-of-cancel-culture-on-social-media\">Teens acknowledge the tensions of \u2018cancel culture\u2019 on social media<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a concept, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/22384308\/cancel-culture-free-speech-accountability-debate\">cancel culture<\/a> is relatively well known to the teens in our focus groups. One comment summarizing the mixed views on the subject among some focus group participants comes from an older boy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI think it has its pros and cons. A lot of the time, I feel like they could be very harsh to people who are not deserving of all of the hate. But in some instances, I also find that it points out flaws and people who tend to have lots of followers and, like, aren\u2019t very good people.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked about people calling out others on social media for something they did not like, some teens voiced a preference for calling out friends in person rather than on a social media platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI want to see their reactions and stuff like that, and sometimes I don\u2019t do posts [that] make it a bit more embarrassing and stuff like that, so just want to just sit down some person.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cYes, I think I can agree with that. I don\u2019t want to put them on blast, but I want to let them know that what they\u2019re doing is wrong.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And a few teens shared their thoughts on the prospect of getting \u201ccanceled\u201d themselves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI don\u2019t think I have that fear, because I accept the fact that I\u2019m human. I\u2019m not perfect. So, if people cannot face that, I think it\u2019s actually their loss and not mine.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI feel like I\u2019m very mindful of what I say or what I do. I don\u2019t use racial slurs, I don&#8217;t make jokes about assault or harassment. I would never do that. It\u2019s just not in my mindset to treat people that way or talk in that way.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/11\/teens-social-connection-Illustration7_640a.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28861\" width=\"640\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;teens-have-a-range-of-definitions-for-digital-privacy&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"teens-have-a-range-of-definitions-for-digital-privacy\">Teens have a range of definitions for digital privacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some previous research by the Center has shown that <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2013\/05\/21\/teens-social-media-and-privacy\/#:~:text=Some%2060%25%20of%20teens%20ages,their%20profile%20is%20completely%20public\">privacy is on teens\u2019 minds<\/a> as they use social media. The teens in these focus groups tended to think about privacy in the context of their social lives \u2013 such as keeping their personal information and feelings to themselves, rather than having it shared with others. They did not usually volunteer answers concerning surveillance by corporations or governments, issues that are often part of <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/americans-and-privacy-concerned-confused-and-feeling-lack-of-control-over-their-personal-information\/\">adults\u2019 thinking about privacy<\/a>. Asked to define privacy in their own words, here are some of their comments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cWhat do you mean by digital privacy? &#8230; I feel like all of my social media accounts personally are privated, so only the people I let follow me can see the stuff I post. I would feel weird if anyone could see my videos and stuff, I don\u2019t know.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI would describe it as keeping your personal life separate from your online identity and keeping that information off the internet.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cOkay, what do you mean by digital privacy? You mean that any information I use on a social media platform does not go out to people, my phone number, my pictures, my videos are safe on that platform. \u2026 My data [is] not being shared with anyone, that\u2019s what I understand by privacy.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several social media companies have added a feature for users to share posts that are only visible to a select group of their followers that they choose. On platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram, these are known as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/how-to-make-a-private-story-on-snapchat\">private stories<\/a>. Some of these teens described how they used private stories across their respective social media platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI have private stories. I have a normal story where everybody can see it and then I have a private story just for my personal friends that I hang out with all the time and talk to all the time.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI don\u2019t like to post \u2013 say it\u2019s a funny picture or something \u2013 on my main story. Private story is more [for] like your close friends, the people you talk to. Not really family. Unless it\u2019s a cousin you\u2019re close with.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e4e9e8\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e4e9e8;\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/11\/teens-social-connection-Illustration8_640a.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28862 not-transparent\" width=\"640\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;activism-is-a-draw-for-some-teens-on-social-media&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"activism-is-a-draw-for-some-teens-on-social-media\">Activism is a draw for some teens on social media<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In their comments during the focus groups, teens showed they are aware that observers on social media \u2013 both people they know and strangers \u2013 could be carefully watching what they say and do. They reported there are ways in which this inhibits the kinds of things they do and other ways in which this can be helpful, for instance, in promoting causes they care about. When the older teens were asked about using social media for the purposes of political and social activism, some said they appreciate the capacity of the platforms to spread awareness about a cause or use popular hashtags to draw attention to an important movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI\u2019m Black and I say [on social media] to stand up for the Black community, to say no to racism. So, that\u2019s my focal point \u2013 and police brutality. So, those are [the issues] I speak on, because I feel a lot of people in my race, we face that every single day. Even at school, when coming back from school, at malls and places like that.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI come from an Armenian background, and I don\u2019t know if any of you know, but Armenia has been though a genocide and it had a war recently that a lot of people don\u2019t talk about. It\u2019s not in history books. It\u2019s not really looked at as important, but through social media I\u2019m able to post about it, because I have a lot of followers that aren\u2019t Armenian from school, and like this, they can get some knowledge about what\u2019s going on.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And while one boy also posts in support of certain causes, he says he is mindful of avoiding repetition. If others already made the exact same post, he said that he wouldn\u2019t post it because he felt he had little new to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cYes, I posted in support of [Black Lives Matter] and things like that. But I don\u2019t usually post about spreading awareness for causes unless it\u2019s something that\u2019s personal to me. And like, I think it\u2019s not out there because I feel like a lot of the time people will just get caught up posting the exact same post and like, anyone who will see it from me will have already seen it from somewhere else.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the focus groups, younger teens were not explicitly asked about their engagement with online activism, but the subject emerged during the conversation in one of their groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cWell, sometimes there have been some things about COVID-19, about saving some endangered animals and also when the Black Lives Matter movement was at its peak probably, that\u2019s when I would post a lot of that.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/11\/teens-social-connection-Illustration9_640a.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28863\" width=\"640\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;some-teens-say-their-use-of-social-media-changed-during-the-pandemic&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"some-teens-say-their-use-of-social-media-changed-during-the-pandemic\">Some teens say their use of social media changed during the pandemic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some researchers have observed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8507823\/\">changes in teens\u2019 social media use<\/a> since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A part of our focus group conversations centered on questions related to whether teens\u2019 use of social media changed during the pandemic. Several participants say they began to use social media more. As a teen girl put it, \u201cI think the disconnect from my peers socially made me want to engage more with social media.\u201d Others described how they started increasing their use of some platforms. \u201cI started using Snapchat and TikTok a lot more,\u201d noted a teen boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In response to a follow-up question about why he thought he used social media apps more, another boy said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cProbably because I had more free time and I didn\u2019t have to deal with [other issues] at the beginning [of the pandemic], a lot of work and it just caused me to be on my phone more and stuff.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The older teens were asked a broad question about the degree to which their lives have changed since the beginning of the pandemic. These are some of the changes they described:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cWell, I can say because of the pandemic I was not really, can I say, acquainted that much with social media and I really thought that I could never have this virtual communication with people. I felt that it has to be face to face. But with this, I can see that life can go on without you seeing that person every day. So, it kind of showed me an innovative way of how the world works, so you can still move even without seeing each other.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cDuring the pandemic, I feel like less people were using social media in certain ways, because there wasn\u2019t much to post, like going out. You\u2019re just staying at home. But TikTok, everyone was on it, because it was their source of entertainment.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, some of these teens mentioned abandoning certain platforms that they lost interest in during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI stopped going on Reddit and Tumblr, and Pinterest became a lot less used. \u2026 It was either I got distracted with other apps, or I lost interest in what I was looking on there in the first place.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI think I kind of stopped using Twitch. I didn\u2019t really go back to it. I just saw it and I decided to put it on, but I never went back to it at all.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/11\/teens-social-connection-Illustration10_640a.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28864\" width=\"640\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;teens-detail-how-their-lives-would-change-if-social-media-disappeared-overnight&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"teens-detail-how-their-lives-would-change-if-social-media-disappeared-overnight\">Teens detail how their lives would change if social media disappeared overnight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social media \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/why-im-taking-a-social-media-sabbatical-11610406985\">sabbaticals<\/a>,\u201d \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/wfsu.org\/education\/2021\/02\/21\/social-media-fasting\/\">fasts<\/a>\u201d and \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/technology\/archive\/2012\/02\/we-dont-need-a-digital-sabbath-we-need-more-time\/252317\/\">sabbaths<\/a>\u201d have been embraced in some circles for years, and prior research has shown that from time to time some teens also <a href=\"https:\/\/apnorc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/APNORC_Teens_SocialMedia_Breaks_2017_FINAL.pdf\">take breaks<\/a> from social media. Our survey also asked teens how hard it would be to give up social media and found that <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2022\/08\/10\/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022\/#slight-majorities-of-teens-see-the-amount-of-time-they-spend-on-social-media-as-about-right-and-say-it-would-be-hard-to-give-up\">54% said it would be very or somewhat hard<\/a>, compared with 46% who said it would be very or somewhat easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the focus groups we asked a related question: \u201cWhat would happen if social media disappeared overnight?\u201d Other research that looked at adults has found that the prospect of the sudden disappearance of social media might have a varying impact, for some raising the prospect of <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@sophia_sanchez\/5-things-that-would-happen-if-social-media-disappeared-95f12d685dc4\">positive outcomes<\/a>, such as more happiness and privacy, and for others <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rd.com\/list\/if-social-media-disappeared\/\">negative outcomes<\/a>, such as difficulty connecting with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our focus group participants had a range of reactions, too: Some considered the potential loss of social media an inconvenience, while others said it would be good for them mentally to spend less time in a \u201ctoxic\u201d place, and yet others said their lives would not change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5ef9b8a3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI feel like I would get bored a lot quicker. I spend most of my time on TikTok and YouTube and stuff and if that just suddenly disappeared overnight, I feel like I\u2019ll have to search deeper for stuff that I like and miss the content that I used to watch previously.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI think it would be a little bit [messed up if social media disappeared]. I spend 99% of my time indoors in front of my computer, if I\u2019m not playing games, I\u2019m watching pirated videos. If I\u2019m not watching videos, maybe I\u2019m reading an article. I\u2019m always online. And I hardly step out of my room. I have had issues with my dad. He said my room is too creepy. I should come outside and play with people but I\u2019m not really good at making friends. So, it\u2019s a bit hard on me.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c[When] we were younger, [social media] didn\u2019t have an effect on us and social media wasn\u2019t as big as it is now. I feel like we were more free and more happy, and no stress or overthinking or insecure.\u201d \u2013 Teen girl<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI\u2019d probably not be able to make plans with my friends as easily. Whenever we want to go out, we just text each other in our group chat, but if not then making friends would be really hard, because if someone wasn\u2019t able to make it or if we planned something and there\u2019s a person that was meant to pick us up that couldn\u2019t make it, we wouldn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/em> <em>\u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c[Life] kind of wouldn\u2019t [change] because I usually play outside.\u201d \u2013 Teen boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"efefef\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #efefef;\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/11\/teens-social-connection-Illustration11_250a.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28865 not-transparent\" width=\"250\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Illustrations by Margaret Porteus<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key themes in focus group discussions among teens about the role of social media intheir lives Teens can have a wide spectrum of experiences on social media and an extensive range of feelings about what happens to them on these platforms. 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