Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — YouTube has emerged as the most popular social media platform among Gen Z teens in the United States, surpassing TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and X (formerly Twitter), according to a recent Pew Research Center study titled “Teens, Social Media, and Technology 2024.”
According to Kompas, the survey was conducted between September 18 and October 10, 2024, polled 1,391 teens aged 13 to 17 across the United States. Therefore, the result was shedding light on their social media habits and platform preferences.
The findings revealed that 73% of respondents reported using YouTube daily, making it the top social media choice for teens. Of those, 15% said they are on YouTube almost constantly, 39% access it multiple times a day, and 18% use it once per day.
After YouTube, TikTok ranked as the second most-used platform, with 57% of teens reporting daily usage. Among them, 34% said they log into the short-video app every day.
Instagram and Snapchat followed closely, with roughly half of the respondents saying they use these platforms daily. In contrast, Facebook saw a significant decline in teen engagement over the past decade. While 71% of teens reported using Facebook in 2014-2015, the number has plummeted to just 32% in 2024.
The Pew study also highlighted gender-based differences in platform preferences. Teenage girls showed a stronger inclination toward TikTok and Instagram, while boys were more likely to favor YouTube.
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The study found that smartphones remain the most common device for social media access among Gen Z teens, with 95% relying on their mobile devices. This is followed by desktop or laptop computers (88%), gaming consoles (83%), and tablets (70%).
The report underscores YouTube’s dominant role in shaping Gen Z online behavior, while highlighting evolving trends in social media platform preferences and engagement among U.S. teenagers.
(Raidi/Agung)
