Research + News
Dec 9, 2019
I’m A Teenager Who Was Bullied: Here’s What Bullying Among Teens Looks Like Today
In this post for Parents ‘Teen Talk’ column—articles written by teens to help parents understand what’s really happening in their world—a teenager shares what she learned from a personal experience with bullying in high school and how parents can support teens through their own situations. Read the article here.
Dec 9, 2019
TikTok Admits It Suppressed Videos By Disabled, LBGTQ, And Fat Creators
TikTok, a social network video app with more than 1 billion downloads globally, admitted Tuesday to a set of policies that had suppressed the reach of content created by users assumed to be “vulnerable to cyberbullying.” Read the article here.
Dec 9, 2019
More Teen Time On Social Media, More Eating Disorders?
The more often young teens turn to social media, the more prone they are to eating disorders, new research suggests. Read the article here.
Dec 9, 2019
Tinder Lets Known Sex Offenders Use The App. It’s Not The Only One.
Match Group, which owns most major online dating services, screens for sexual predators on Match — but not on Tinder, OkCupid or PlentyofFish. Read the article here.
Dec 6, 2019
A Parent’s Guide To Sadfishing, Explained By A Teenager
Sadfishing is when someone exaggerates their emotional state in order to get sympathy or attention from an audience. Read the article here.
Dec 6, 2019
Cellphone-Related Head And Neck Injuries On The Rise
Dec 3, 2019
Teens Overwhelmingly Engage With Junk Food On Social Media Because There’s No Kale TikTok
While teens are using social networking platforms, they are exposed to marketing from food brands. Read the article here.
Dec 1, 2019
Quitting Facebook Can Lead to Higher Grades For Teens
Study suggests that struggling students can considerably improve their grades by spending less time on social media. Read the article here.
Nov 27, 2019
Teens Are Using TikTok As A New Way To Come Out To Friends And Family, App Vital To Gen Z’s LGBTQ Community
Nov 22, 2019
Preteens Need Modern Payment Options For Today’s Digital Video Games
Preteens spend a lot on video games, but how? Read the article here.
Nov 22, 2019
Is TikTok Safe For Kids?
Gen Z can’t get enough of TikTok. But if you’re worried about what exactly your kids are getting, you’re not alone. Read the article here.
Nov 19, 2019
Instagram Just Took Its Divisive ‘Hidden Likes’ Experiment Global
Instagram announced it’s expanding its test of hidden likes to users around the world. Read the article here.
Nov 18, 2019
Teens Are Calling Themselves “Ugly” On TikTok. It’s Not As Depressing As You Think
Instagram is a beauty pageant. TikTok is where kids are free to be mediocre. Read the article here.
Nov 18, 2019
College Students Say Ditching Their Smartphones For A Week Changed Their Lives
College students went one week without their smartphones. Read the article here.
Nov 18, 2019
Gauging How Digital Usage Fits Into Teens’ Lives And Buying Habits
Are teens as much in thrall to digital as popular stereotypes suggest? Read the article here.
Nov 15, 2019
‘Snapchat Dysmorphia’: Seeking Selfie Perfection
Now, more and more people want to look like themselves — a phone-edited version of themselves, that is. Read the article here.
Nov 15, 2019
Millennial Parents Turn To Tech To Treat Their Children
Depending on where they live, millennial parents would consider a range of high-tech treatments for the health and wellness of their children. Read the article here.
Nov 8, 2019
Too Much Screen Time May Be Stunting Toddlers’ Brains
Toddlers who spend loads of time looking at tablets, smartphones or TVs may be changing their brains, and not for the better. Read the article here.
Nov 8, 2019
Getting To Know The Next Generation Of Video Gamers
For those growing up in 2019, however, anything with a screen can be a gaming platform. Read the article and view the video here.
Nov 8, 2019
What YouTube Channels Are High Schoolers Watching?
The majority of high schoolers have embraced YouTube as their social media platform of choice, with recent studies showing that the majority of high schoolers spend exponentially more time on the video-sharing service than on the wealth of other social media options out there. Read the article here.
Nov 6, 2019
Too Much YouTube? Online Video Usage Among Teens Is Going Through The Roof, Survey Says
Online video usage is going through the roof and has more than doubled in four years. Read the article here.
Nov 6, 2019
What Is Cyber Flashing?
Cyber Flashing is a different way for sexual predators to invade your privacy or that of your children or to transfer other unwanted material using a specific program that is featured on all Apple devices: AirDrop. Read the article here.
Nov 6, 2019
Teens Explain Their YouTube Obsession (Because Adults Don’t Get It)
High-schoolers tell the WSJ why they love the video social network, but also acknowledge its dark side: ‘Don’t use it as a babysitter’. Read the article here.
Nov 5, 2019
What Are Teens Doing When They’re On Their Phones? We Asked Them
Teens spend, on average, more than seven hours a day using screens and 60 percent of teens themselves say spending too much time online is a “major” problem. Read the article here.
Nov 5, 2019
Katie Couric’s New Podcast: Teens’ Easy Access To Hardcore Porn Could Hurt Them… Literally
Katie Couric wanted to know why one in four women are scared during sex. Her short answer: porn. Read the article here.
Nov 5, 2019
Instagram Is Banning Filters That Promote Cosmetic Surgery As It Battles Mental Health Concerns
Instagram decided to remove the cosmetic surgery filter over concerns that they contribute to unrealistic beauty standards, linked to negative body image among users. Read the article here.
Nov 5, 2019
In Online Videos, American Teens Know What They Like
Being funny (52%), having an interesting topic (46%), and being short in length (43%) are important. Read the article here.
Oct 29, 2019
The Common Sense Census: Media Use By Tweens And Teens, 2019
This large-scale study explores how kids age 8 to 18 in the U.S. use media across an array of activities and devices—including short-form, mobile-friendly platforms like YouTube—to see where they spend their time and what they enjoy most. Download the report from Common Sense Media here.
Oct 29, 2019
More LOLs, Fewer Zzzs: Teens May Be Losing Sleep Over Social Media
Heavier users of social media get to bed later and get poorer quality sleep. Read the article here.
Oct 29, 2019
Social Media Often Leaves Young Women Feeling Badly About Their Bodies
Images posted to social media are often far from reality, but this research is among the first to analyze how all of these unrealistic pictures impact young women’s views on their own bodies Read the article here.
Oct 28, 2019
When The Prescription For Teens Is More Social Media, Not Less
Treatments for children with anxiety and depression increasingly push them to navigate Instagram, Snapchat to build relationships with peers. Read the article here.
Oct 28, 2019
Role Reversal: Children Often Begging Parents To Put Phones Away
Alarming new research reveals that the average parent spends just 24 minutes more per day with their children than they do with their smartphone. Read the article here.
Oct 28, 2019
Further Evidence Bedtime Social Media Use Is Harming Teenagers
A new UK study shows that teenagers who spend 3 or more hours engaging in social media are much more likely to sleep late and to have night awakenings, among other poor sleep habits. Read the article here.
Oct 25, 2019
Phone Detox Camps Are Real And Filled With Teenagers
Smartphones are many people’s gateway to entertainment, knowledge and other people strewn across the globe, a means to an end – be it education, connection, self-development. In one part of the world, though, it has become an addiction. Read the article here.
Oct 25, 2019
Can You Really Be Addicted To Video Games?
The latest research suggests it’s not far-fetched at all — especially when you consider all the societal and cultural factors that make today’s games so attractive. Read the article here.
Oct 24, 2019
What Is TikTok? And Is It Safe? A Guide For Clueless Parents
Oct 24, 2019
When Social Media Become Too Much – Even For A Teen
A 14-year-old shares about being sick and tired of social media. Read his account here.
Oct 24, 2019
Teens Are Dancing To Voicemails From Their Toxic Exes On TikTok
Teen girls are making TikTok videos dancing to audio clips of their exes’ demoralizing voicemails and rants. Read the article here.
Oct 21, 2019
The Teenagers So Addicted To Cellphones They’re Going To Detox Centers
More than 98% of South Korean teens used a smartphone in 2018, according to government figures — and many are showing signs of addiction. Read the article
here.
Oct 21, 2019
‘Do You Wind It Up?’: Today’s Teens Tackle Rotary Phones, FM Radio And Map Reading
Their smartphones do everything, but can teenagers master old tech and life skills – from reading a map to setting an alarm clock? Read the article here.
Oct 21, 2019
UK Drops Age-Verification Plan For Pornography Websites
Concerns over enforcement and data being misused lead government to cancel rollout. Read the article here.
Oct 18, 2019
Why The New Instagram It Girl Spends All Her Time Alone
Loneliness is Instagram’s hottest trend. Read the article here.
Oct 16, 2019
Teens Keep Outsmarting Apple’s Features For Limiting Screen Time, And Parents Are Starting To Get Frustrated
Teens keep discovering ways to get around Apple’s Screen Time parental control feature. Read the article here.
Oct 16, 2019
Game ON! Newsletter Featuring Top Anticipated Holiday Games And More
The October issue of Nielsen’s Game ON! Newsletter. Download the newsletter here.
Oct 16, 2019
5 Sources Of Stress In Teens
Tim Elmore blogs about 5 common sources of stress in teens that often lead to anxiety and depression. Read the blog post here.
Oct 15, 2019
R/Teenagers: The Subreddit Where Teens Share Memes, Vent & Ask For Advice
r/teenagers is a subreddit created by teenagers for teenagers as a place to share memes, vent about school, and share about the experience of being a teen. Read the article here.
Oct 15, 2019
Study Reports One In Four Brazilian Teenagers Is Web-Dependent
A Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES) survey of more than 2,000 adolescents shows that 25.3 percent are moderately or severely dependent on the Internet. Read the article here.
Oct 15, 2019
‘Sharenting’: Teens Think Parents Share Too Much About Them On Social Media
42 percent of teens think their parents overshare about them online. Read the article here.
Oct 10, 2019
New Research Commissioned By The BBFC Into The Impact Of Pornography On Children Demonstrates Significant Support For Age-Verification
83% of parents agreed with the statement “there should be robust age-verification controls in place to stop children (under 18s) seeing commercial pornography online.” Read the report here.
Oct 10, 2019
Ohio Resolution Seeks To Declare Pornography A ‘Public Health Hazard’
An Ohio lawmaker has drafted a new resolution that could declare pornography a public health hazard. House Resolution 180 also links viewing pornography to violence against women. Read the article here.
Oct 10, 2019
From David Dobrik To The Rock, These Are Teens’ Favorite People To Follow On YouTube, Instagram, And Twitter
Teens’ icons and role models aren’t just actors and athletes anymore — now, they’re looking up to their favorite people to follow on Instagram and YouTube. Read the article here.
Oct 8, 2019
Teens In The US Are Spending More Time On YouTube Than On Netflix For The First Time
YouTube edged out Netflix as the preferred video streaming platform for teens, according to a new survey from investment banking firm Piper Jaffray. Read the article here.
Oct 7, 2019
Teens Social Media Obsession Brings Health Risks, Docs Warn
As children and teens become more absorbed by the lure of posting and reading others’ posts on social media, it becomes critical for adults to step in, set limits and just clarify things, doctors urge. Read the article here.
Oct 4, 2019
The Teens Of TikTok Are Taking On School Shootings
Oct 4, 2019
Teens’ Touchscreen Typing Speeds Put Their Parents Attempts To Shame
According to a new large scale study of more than 37,000 users, there is now a mobile device “typing gap” between today’s 10- to 19-year-olds and their parents’ generation. Read the article here.
Oct 3, 2019
The Not-So-Secret Life Of A TikTok-Famous Teen
Haley downloaded the app for fun. Now millions of people watch her videos. Read the article here.
Oct 3, 2019
More Teens In Mexico Feel ‘Addicted’ To Phones Than In Other Countries
But in all countries, “one thing we’ve found in common is the number of parents and teens who say they wake up in the middle of the night and check their phones.” Read the full article here.
Oct 3, 2019
3 Ways Grandparents CAN Help Kids Reject Pornography
Many grandparents want to know what they can do to protect their precious grandkids from today’s online dangers. Read some tips here.
Oct 3, 2019
Gen Z, Millennials Have Higher Tolerance For TV Ads
Contrary to some common perceptions about advertising, a Deloitte study says younger TV viewers actually have a higher tolerance for advertising — especially for streaming services. Read the article here.
Oct 1, 2019
Young People Struggle To Relax Because Of Smartphone Attachment, Survey Claims
Six in 10 say they never switch off because they are constantly checking their mobile. Read the article here.
Oct 1, 2019
Sadfishing: Social Media Trend Threatens Teenagers’ Mental Health, Report Warns
Pupils seeking support online are being affected by latest trend. Read the article here.
Oct 1, 2019
Social Media Influencing Young Boys’ Body Attitudes
The endless endorsement of particular body images and physical attributes on social media is influencing how young boys view themselves in the modern age, according to a new book. Read the article here.
Sep 30, 2019
Game-Fluencers
Esports streamers with millions of generation Z fans are the next frontier for brands. Read the article here.
Sep 30, 2019
Digital Bibles Help Men Read More But Retain Less
Data suggests Christians are unaware of the effect the medium has on the message. Read the article
here.
Sep 30, 2019
Battle Of The Battle Royales: Fortnite’s Console Dominance Unfazed By Newest Challenger
In the gaming space, the Battle Royale category (a last-man-standing survival game) recently skyrocketed to prominence – most notably via the rapid ascension of Epic Games’ Fortnite, which has arguably become a recognized household brand. Read the article here.
Sep 25, 2019
‘Don’t Wait’: How To Talk To Teenagers About Porn
A generation is growing up with online pornography. What impact is it having on them – and how should parents handle it? Read the article here.
Sep 24, 2019
Amish Teens Embracing TikTok, Finding Fame On The Social Media App
Videos have surfaced on TikTok and Twitter of Amish users doing everything from riding a horse and buggy to Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” building to the song “Barbie Girl” and some who just answer questions about Amish life. Read the article here.
Sep 24, 2019
Teens With Low-Self Control, Excessive Screen Time And Questionable Friends More Likely To Hack
Teens with low-self control who excessively use digital devices and have friends who engage in questionable behavior could be more prone to hack. Read the article here.
Sep 19, 2019
Instagram Won’t Let Teens See Weight-Loss Products And Cosmetic Surgery Posts
Instagram has announced that it will restrict users under the age of 18 from seeing posts that promote select weight-loss products and cosmetic surgery procedures, while the company will also ban some types of ads that promote unrealistic “get thin quick” products entirely, reports the BBC. Read the article here.
Sep 19, 2019
Study Blames Disturbing Rise In Teens Who Need Glasses On Excessive Screen Time
A new study is warning parents that all that screen time may be behind a stunning rise in children who need prescription glasses. Read the article here.
Sep 17, 2019
Teens Explain The VSCO Girl – And Why You Never Want To Be One
The VSCO girl, named after VSCO, an Instagram-like app for photo editing and sharing, wears oversize name-brand shirts, wrist scrunchies, and puka shell necklaces… and more. Read the article here.
Sep 17, 2019
‘Slofies’ Are A Thing Now, Thanks To Apple’s New iPhone 11
Those who buy the new phones will have the ability to take slow-motion selfies, which, it declared, are now officially known as “Slofies.” Read the article here.
Sep 16, 2019
Teens Are Anxious And Depressed After 3 Hours A Day On Social Media
A study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry suggests that teenagers who spend more than three hours a day on social media are more likely to develop mental health problems including depression, anxiety, aggression, and antisocial behavior. Read the article here.
Sep 16, 2019
Gen Z Are The Most Likely To Be Influenced Online
People who are part of Generation Z are the most likely age group to be influenced by the things they see on the internet, despite being the first generation to grow up entirely online. Read the article here.
Sep 16, 2019
The Teens Have Found A New Ill-Advised Viral Trend
Putting glue above your upper lip in order to make your lips look plump? Read more about the trend here.
Sep 16, 2019
I Won’t Buy My Teenagers Smartphones
Denying a teen a smartphone in 2019 is a tough decision, and one that requires an organized and impenetrable defense. Read the article here.
Sep 12, 2019
GAME ON! September Newsletter from Nielsen
The September issue of the GAME ON! Newsletter from Nielsen takes a look at Borderlands 3 and more. Read it here.
Sep 12, 2019
American Teens Define And Establish Themselves On Social Media, But There Is A Dark Side
The main reason teenagers are so tethered to their smartphones is social connection. Read the insights here.
Sep 10, 2019
5 Sneaky Locations Porn Finds Kids
Pornography is now available to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Read the article here.
Sep 10, 2019
Americans Now Have Less Faith In Tech Than Church
Christians hope to address the ethical concerns raised as the country grows more skeptical of Big Tech. Read the article here.
Sep 6, 2019
Research Looks At How Snapchat Filters Affect Self-Image
A study set out to find if selfie-editing filters negatively or positively impact one’s evaluation of self. Read the article here.
Sep 6, 2019
4 Ways To Help Kids Deal With Discomfort: Life Skills That Build Emotional Resilience
Parents report that one of the top reasons they avoid discussions about pornography with their children is they are afraid they’ll make their child uncomfortable. Read the article here.
Sep 6, 2019
It’s Ridiculously Easy For Kids To Cheat Now
Because homework-help apps and sites can either give students all the answers or provide much-needed support, parents need to make sure kids are using these tools properly. Read the article here.
Sep 5, 2019
Less Screen Time, More Sleep, Better-Behaved Kids
Researchers found that 8- to 11-year-olds who got adequate sleep and had limits on “screen time” were less likely than their peers to report problems with impulsive behavior. Read the article here.
Sep 5, 2019
Teenagers And Their Phones: ‘I Plan To Spend Five Minutes And It Ends Up An Hour’
Some Irish teens share their highs and lows about smartphone use. Read the article here.
Sep 5, 2019
Inspired By Video Game, Teenage Girl Leaves Home And Travels 10 Cities In 18 Days
The 15-year-old from Uttarakhand got so addicted to Taxi Driver 2 that she wanted to be on the move constantly and ran away from home to live her life like in the mobile game. Read the article here.
Aug 30, 2019
Screens Are Changing The Way We Read Scripture
As digital reading habits rewire our brains, how will we process the Bible differently? Read the article here.
Aug 30, 2019
MTV’s New ‘Ghosted’ Show Draws Backlash For Romanticizing Stalking
MTV is launching a Catfish-esque show to help those who have been ghosted by former lovers confront their ghoster, and many people don’t approve of the message the show is sending. Read the article here.
Aug 6, 2019
Five Apps You’ve Never Heard Of That Teens Are Using To Shop
Generation Z now has $143 billion in buying power and is entering a back-to-school season with more purchasing happening on smartphones than ever. Read the article here.
Aug 6, 2019
Online Videos Keep American Teens Learning, Laughing, And Entertained
Ever wonder what teens do on their phones all day? Read the article here.
Aug 2, 2019
Kids Go Online Rather Than Ask Parents For Homework Help
A new survey from computer and smartphone maker Lenovo shows that pretty much all around the world, technology trumps parental intervention when it comes to helping kids with homework. Read the article here.
Jul 31, 2019
‘Facebook is at the point of no return’: These 17-Year-Olds Are Very Clear About What They Love And Hate About Social Media
Generation Z has never known a world without the internet, smartphones and social media and their behavior is a constant source of fascination for companies who want to understand how to reach them with the next big thing. Read the article here.
Jul 30, 2019
U.S. Teen Wins $3 Million At Video Game Tournament Fortnite World Cup
American teenager Kyle Giersdorf won $3 million on Sunday in New York after taking the top prize in a tournament for the popular online video game Fortnite. Read the article here.
Jul 30, 2019
Girls Report More Harassment Amid Rise In US Cyberbullying
There’s a rise in cyberbullying nationwide, with three times as many girls reporting being harassed online or by text message than boys, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Read the article here.
Jul 30, 2019
Social Media A Big Driver Of Teen Vaping Craze
Social media is helping spur the e-cigarette epidemic among America’s teens, a new study suggests. Read the article here.
Jul 24, 2019
Increasing Social Media Use Tied To Rise In Teens’ Depressive Symptoms
Spending too much time scrolling through social media and watching more television has been linked with symptoms of depression in young people — and a new study reveals to what extent screen time and depression may be intertwined. Read the article here.
Jul 24, 2019
Italy Is Sending Phone-Addicted Teens To Rehab
New legislation is set to crackdown on a phenomenon called “nomophobia,” which means living in fear of losing your mobile and having no internet connection. Read the article here.
Jul 24, 2019
Gen Z, Millennials Unhappy With Social Media’s Impact On Their Lives
Having come of age in a world in which virtual “likes” determine personal worth, more than half of Gen Z and Millennials admit to daydreaming about life without social media. Read the article here.
Jul 23, 2019
TikTok Stars Are Preparing To Take Over The Internet
Less than a year after its U.S. launch, the platform is poised to dominate the American social-media landscape and upend the creator ecosystem. Read the article here.
Jul 15, 2019
Parents Hire Coaches To Help Limit Their Kids’ Screen Time
For a fee as high as $200, so-called “screen time consultants” are helping parents figure out how to get their kids off of their devices. View the video from Good Morning America here.