A recent study has shed light on the prevalence of negative experiences among teenagers online, revealing that the type of harm encountered varies depending on the platforms used. The study, conducted on a nationally representative sample of 472 US teenagers aged 13-17 from February to December 2025, examined experiences on 20 communication platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
The study found that 44.7% of teenagers witnessed someone being bullied, while 29.8% reported being directly bullied in the previous four weeks. The rates of direct bullying were similar online (16.4%) and in real life (18.5%), indicating that this type of conflict is widespread in both contexts. However, the internet was a more common source of other types of harm, such as viewing violent images or receiving unwanted sexual content.
The study revealed that 10.7% of teenagers viewed violent images online compared to 1.6% in real life, and 13.4% received unwanted sexual images online versus 2.0% in real life. Additionally, 9.7% of teenagers viewed self-harm content online compared to 5.2% in real life. Furthermore, 51.5% of teenagers reported that using technology negatively impacted their sleep.
The study also found differences between platforms, with 9.1% of Instagram users reporting seeing violent images compared to 1.9% of YouTube users. Feeling that life seemed worse due to others' posts was more common on Instagram (16.6%) and TikTok (13.4%) compared to YouTube (4.1%) and text messages (5.6%).
The study's lead researcher, Angela Y. Lee, Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, noted that the research aimed to provide a clear and consistent measurement of young people's online experiences amid growing concerns about their safety. Lee emphasized that understanding the rate of negative experiences on specific platforms could inform discussions about the impact of social media on mental health.
The study did not find a statistical correlation between parents' education or family income, or the presence of parental control tools on smartphones, and a greater or lesser likelihood of experiencing online harm. Researchers suggested that differences in harm rates between platforms might be related to user characteristics, not just platform design.
The study's findings are considered experimental and should not be taken as conclusive evidence that a specific platform causes a particular type of harm. The researchers plan to conduct a larger study involving American teenagers and their parents to monitor harm across a broader range of platforms, including chatbots and AI-powered applications.
Key points
- Instagram and TikTok are linked to higher rates of negative experiences among teenagers.
- The study highlights the need for further research into the impact of social media on mental health.
- The findings could inform discussions about the impact of social media on mental health and the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing harm.
