MORE FACT SHEETS: TEENS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Explore the patterns and trends of U.S. teens’ internet usage and their access to different technology devices below.

Teen internet use over time

Today, nearly all U.S. teens say they use the internet every day (96%). And the share of teens who report being online “almost constantly” has roughly doubled since 2014-2015 (24% vs. 46%).


% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who say they use the internet …
YearAlmost constantlySeveral times a dayAbout once a dayNET Several times a week or less often
20152456128
2022464833
2023464743

Note: Figures from 2015 depicted above were collected from 2014 to 2015. Those who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. teens conducted 2014-2023.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

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Which teens are online ‘almost constantly’

There are some differences in the amount of time teens report spending online by race and ethnicity, as well as age.1

ALL U.S. TEENS46%
GENDER
Boys45%
Girls47%
RACE AND ETHNICITY
White38%
Black54%
Hispanic55%
AGE
13-1440%
15-1750%
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
<$30,00054%
$30K-$74,99945%
$75,000+45%
COMMUNITY TYPE
Urban45%
Suburban48%
Rural43%
Note: White and Black teens include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanic teens are of any race. Those who did not give an answer or gave other responses are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Sept. 26-Oct. 23, 2023.

Teens and digital devices

Nearly all teens (95%) report having access to a smartphone, up from 73% in 2014-2015. Tablet accessibility has also experienced a 7 percentage point uptick during the same time frame. Access to other digital devices such as desktop or laptop computers, or gaming consoles has remained stable.


% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who say they have access to the following devices at home
YearSmartphoneDesktop or laptop computerGaming consoleTablet computer
201573878158
2022959080
202395908365

Note: Figures from 2015 depicted above were collected from 2014 to 2015. Those who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. teens conducted 2014-2023.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

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Which teens have access to digital devices

Access to certain digital devices differs by teens’ household income and gender. Teens in lower-income households are less likely to say they have access to a home computer or a tablet. And teen girls are less likely than teen boys to say they have access to a game console at home.

SmartphoneDesktop or
laptop computer
Gaming consoleTablet computer
ALL U.S. TEENS95%90%83%65%
GENDER
Boys94%89%91%64%
Girls97%91%75%66%
RACE AND ETHNICITY
White95%90%85%63%
Black94%91%83%68%
Hispanic96%89%82%63%
AGE
13-1492%86%84%64%
15-1797%92%82%65%
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
<$30,00094%72%78%57%
$30K-$74,99992%87%80%62%
$75,000+96%94%85%67%
COMMUNITY TYPE
Urban95%87%80%64%
Suburban97%92%86%67%
Rural91%87%80%62%
Note: White and Black teens include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanic teens are of any race. Those who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. teens conducted Sept. 26-Oct. 23, 2023.

Find out more

This fact sheet was compiled by Research Analyst Michelle Faverio, with help from Research Assistant Olivia Sidoti, Digital Producer Sara Atske, Associate Information Graphics Designer Kaitlyn Radde and Temporary Researcher Eugenie Park.

Read the methodology and topline.

Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder. This report was created to better understand teens’ use of digital devices, social media and other online platforms.

Follow these links for more in-depth analysis of teens and technology:

Find more reports and blog posts related to internet and technology.