According to CNET, a new Pew Research Center survey of 1,458 US teens aged 13-17 found that daily use of platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok is spiking after a dip in 2022. The report, part of a tracking effort since 2009, shows YouTube is universally popular across all demographics. Specifically, 21% of teens say they are on TikTok “almost constantly.” The survey also included AI chatbots for the first time, finding that 64% of teens use tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, with usage higher among older teens (68% of 15-17 year-olds) and those from higher-income households. This data arrives amid ongoing debates and legislative actions, like those in Australia and eight US states, to limit or ban social media for minors.
The Constant Scroll Is Back
So, the 2022 dip was just a blip. Here’s the thing: teens are not just using social media; for a significant chunk, it’s a near-permanent background state. A fifth of them on TikTok “almost constantly” is a staggering figure when you think about it. That’s not checking notifications; that’s a primary activity. And YouTube‘s cross-demographic dominance isn’t surprising, but it solidifies its role as the internet’s default video utility—part TV, part school, part endless rabbit hole. The rebound suggests that any hopes for a major, voluntary shift away from these platforms were probably naive. The hooks are in deep.
AI Chatbots: The New Normal
Now, the chatbot stats are arguably the bigger story. We’re not talking about a niche techie tool anymore. 64% of teens using AI? That’s mainstream adoption happening at lightning speed. Basically, for this generation, turning to a chatbot for homework help, brainstorming, or just messing around is becoming as normal as opening a search engine. The demographic split is telling, too. Higher usage among older teens and wealthier families hints at an emerging “homework gap” 2.0. If you have easier access, you’re already using AI as a productivity multiplier. What does that mean for equity in schools? It’s a question administrators are scrambling to answer.
Regulation Racing to Catch Up
All this data is fuel for the regulatory fire. You’ve got Australia’s under-16 ban and eight US states enacting their own minor social media bans despite legal challenges. The Pew numbers give lawmakers both ammunition and a huge problem. How do you effectively restrict platforms that are this embedded in daily teen life? Age verification is a logistical and privacy nightmare. Outright bans feel like playing whack-a-mole and might just push use underground. The sheer scale of usage shown in this Pew report makes any simplistic legislative solution look, well, simplistic.
What’s Next?
I think we’re watching two trajectories solidify. First, the “constant connection” model of TikTok and YouTube Shorts is the baseline. Second, AI chatbots are being normalized as a core digital tool before most schools or parents have even formed a policy about them. The combination is powerful—and a bit daunting. We’re raising a generation that is always-on for curated content and has a conversational AI on standby. The long-term effects on attention, creativity, and social skills are the trillion-dollar questions. But one thing seems clear: the dip is over. The climb is back on, and it’s steeper than ever.
