Table of Contents
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%).
| Year | Almost constantly | Several times a day | About once a day | NET Several times a week or less often |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 24 | 56 | 12 | 8 |
| 2022 | 46 | 48 | 3 | 3 |
| 2023 | 46 | 47 | 4 | 3 |
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.
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
% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who say they use the internet almost constantly
| ALL U.S. TEENS | 46% |
| GENDER | |
| Boys | 45% |
| Girls | 47% |
| RACE AND ETHNICITY | |
| White | 38% |
| Black | 54% |
| Hispanic | 55% |
| AGE | |
| 13-14 | 40% |
| 15-17 | 50% |
| HOUSEHOLD INCOME | |
| <$30,000 | 54% |
| $30K-$74,999 | 45% |
| $75,000+ | 45% |
| COMMUNITY TYPE | |
| Urban | 45% |
| Suburban | 48% |
| Rural | 43% |
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.
| Year | Smartphone | Desktop or laptop computer | Gaming console | Tablet computer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 73 | 87 | 81 | 58 |
| 2022 | 95 | 90 | 80 | — |
| 2023 | 95 | 90 | 83 | 65 |
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.
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.
% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who say they have access to the following devices at home
| Smartphone | Desktop or laptop computer | Gaming console | Tablet computer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALL U.S. TEENS | 95% | 90% | 83% | 65% |
| GENDER | ||||
| Boys | 94% | 89% | 91% | 64% |
| Girls | 97% | 91% | 75% | 66% |
| RACE AND ETHNICITY | ||||
| White | 95% | 90% | 85% | 63% |
| Black | 94% | 91% | 83% | 68% |
| Hispanic | 96% | 89% | 82% | 63% |
| AGE | ||||
| 13-14 | 92% | 86% | 84% | 64% |
| 15-17 | 97% | 92% | 82% | 65% |
| HOUSEHOLD INCOME | ||||
| <$30,000 | 94% | 72% | 78% | 57% |
| $30K-$74,999 | 92% | 87% | 80% | 62% |
| $75,000+ | 96% | 94% | 85% | 67% |
| COMMUNITY TYPE | ||||
| Urban | 95% | 87% | 80% | 64% |
| Suburban | 97% | 92% | 86% | 67% |
| Rural | 91% | 87% | 80% | 62% |
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:
- Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023
- Connection, Creativity and Drama: Teen Life on Social Media in 2022
- Social media policies for minors: What U.S. adults and teens think
- Use of ChatGPT for schoolwork among U.S. teens
- Parents of U.S. teens worry about explicit content, time-wasting on social media
Find more reports and blog posts related to internet and technology.
