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EMARKETER

US Teen Digital Habits 2025

GenAI Joins YouTube, Social Media, and Gaming as a Must-Have

Report by Paola Flores-Marquez  |  Mar 7, 2025
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Report
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Teens are increasingly comfortable using genAI
YouTube is the leading digital platform among teens
The combination of TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat is still the essential social media starter pack for teens
Gaming provides social and self-soothing benefits for teens
What does this mean for advertisers?
Sources
Media Gallery
About This Report
While teens retain digital habits from childhood (such as a strong preference for YouTube), their newfound independence and desire to connect with peers has led them to new habits.
Topics
Teens
Social Media Users
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
United States
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Teens are increasingly comfortable using genAI
YouTube is the leading digital platform among teens
The combination of TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat is still the essential social media starter pack for teens
Gaming provides social and self-soothing benefits for teens
What does this mean for advertisers?
Sources
Media Gallery

Teens’ interests vary as they age. But they’re consistent in their devotion to YouTube, social media (especially TikTok), and gaming. One new factor is generative AI (genAI), which they’re already leveraging to improve their day-to-day tasks.

Key Question: Where are US teens spending their time online?

TikTok Captures More Teen User Time Spent per Day Than Instagram and Snapchat Combined (average hrs:mins spent per day with TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat by US teen users, 2025)
E-Mail ChartDownload

Key Stat: US teens spend more time on TikTok (1:18) than they do on Instagram (0:33) and Snapchat (0:31) combined.

Here’s what’s in the full report

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Table of Contents

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Teens are increasingly comfortable using genAI
  3. YouTube is the leading digital platform among teens
  1. The combination of TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat is still the essential social media starter pack for teens
  2. Gaming provides social and self-soothing benefits for teens
  3. What does this mean for advertisers?
  1. Sources
  2. Media Gallery

Charts in This Report

TikTok Captures More Teen User Time Spent per Day Than Instagram and Snapchat Combined (average hrs:mins spent per day with TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat by US teen users, 2025)AI Search Engines Are the GenAI Tool Teens Use Most Frequently (% of US teens who use genAI tools, April 2024)
Teens Have Seen the Highest YouTube Penetration of Any Age Group for Nearly a Decade (YouTube viewer % of US population, by age, 2017-2025)Instagram Sees the Biggest Jump in Usage From Younger to Older Teens (% of US teens who have ever used Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat, by age, Oct 2024)
8 in 10 Teen Gamers Spend More Than an Hour per Day Playing Console or PC Games (% of US teen gamers who play games on consoles or other nonmobile devices, by daily time spent, June 2024)

authors

Paola Flores-Marquez

Contributors

Suzy Davidkhanian
VP, Content
Vladimir de Leon
Chart Editor
Joanne DiCamillo
Senior Production Artist
Zach Goldner
Senior Forecasting Analyst
Dana Hill
Penelope Lin
Director, Data Visualization
Jennifer Pearson
VP, Research
Naomi Rebuelta
Copy Editor
Minda Smiley
Heather Sprung
Senior Editor
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