It should be fairly obvious by now that there’s a huge shift happening in entertainment for children and young adults – and much of that shift is directly tied to how children and teens consume entertainment nowadays.
A new study published by the non-profit Pew Research Center today revealed some fascinating insights into how media consumption habits are evolving in the U.S. among teens 13-17. Here are some of the highlights:
- The most used online platforms by U.S. teens are Youtube (85%), Instagram (72%), Snapchat (69%), Facebook (51%), Twitter (32%), Tumblr (9%), and Reddit (7%). This is a significant shift from 2014-2015, when Facebook dominated social among teens. Back then, the top platforms were Facebook (71%), Instagram (52%), Snapchat (41%), and Twitter (33%).
- In terms of which platforms teens use the most, the figures shift. For this, Snapchat is the go-to for 35%, followed by Youtube (32%), Instagram (15%), and Facebook (10%).
- Girls are more likely than boys to say Snapchat is the site they use most often (42% vs. 29%), while boys are more inclined than girls to identify Youtube as their go-to platform (39% vs. 25%).
- 95% of U.S. teens age 13-17 now report they have a smartphone or access to one at home. Only 88% have access to a desktop or laptop at home.
- 45% of teens now say they are online on a near-constant basis, compared to just 24% in 2014-2015.
- 84% of teens say they have or have access to a game console at home, and 90% say they play video games of any kind (whether on a computer, game console or cellphone).
This survey, more than anything, helps explain why ratings at legacy children’s cable networks (Nickelodeon/Disney Channel/Cartoon Network) are tanking hard. With teens spending nearly half their time online – and younger generations shifting even further toward being wired at all times – something had to give, and it turned out to be cable/satellite tv.
