Daily routine of youth involves dedicating thirty minutes to staying updated on current events
In a recent study titled "Children, Young People and Media: (Dis)Connected Lives?", it was found that young people aged 11-19 spend a significant amount of time on social media platforms. The study, inspired by the book of the same name, revealed that these platforms play a central role in their media practices.
According to the survey, young people spend approximately three hours a day on social media. This time is divided among various activities. The most common uses include watching audiovisual content related to personal interests, interacting with friends and colleagues, and producing and posting photos and videos.
YouTube is the dominant platform, used by about 90% of teens, with more than half also regularly using TikTok (63%) and Instagram (61%) [1][3]. Many teens visit these platforms daily, with some reporting "almost constant" use, indicating heavy engagement with video content and short-form media [1][3].
Gender differences were also observed in the study. Girls tend to use visual and social interaction-focused platforms like Instagram and Snapchat more than boys, who may gravitate toward YouTube and TikTok for video watching and content creation. However, exact percentages by gender were not detailed in the sources provided [4].
Regarding usage patterns, teen social media use averages several hours daily (around 4.8 to over 7 hours of total screen time), with many adolescents acknowledging addiction-like behaviors and emotional impacts such as anxiety, fear of missing out, and sensitivity to likes and comments on their posts [2][4].
Interestingly, activities such as listening to the radio, podcasts, and reading newspapers in print or online are activities to which the sample devotes almost no time [5]. Watching television takes up two hours a day, while reading books and reading/watching or listening to the news takes up only thirty minutes a day [5].
In terms of news consumption, searching for information, news, and learning is a practice primarily engaged in by 12th-grade students, with X being the primary social media platform used for news access [6]. However, reading news appears to be a concern for a minority of the sample [5].
The survey, which involved an average of 1,131 children and young people aged between 11 and 19, also showed that girls are the main producers of content for social media, particularly photos and videos, using platforms like TikTok and Instagram [5]. Boys tend to use social media primarily for watching videos related to video games and sports, while girls prefer content about dance, cooking, and humor [5].
In sum, social media usage among young people aged 11-19 is predominantly for entertainment, social connection, and self-expression, with YouTube and TikTok leading in popularity. Gender differences exist in platform preferences, usage motivations, and emotional responses, with girls more engaged in relationship-oriented communication and boys more focused on entertainment content [1][2][3][4]. Despite the significant time spent on social media, traditional news consumption remains relatively low among this age group.
References:
[1] Anderson, M., Jiang, J., & Khoo, M. (2021). Social media use among teenagers in the digital age. Retrieved from https://www.pewinternet.org/2021/04/08/social-media-use-among-teenagers-in-the-digital-age/
[2] Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). The impact of social media on adolescents' mental health. Pediatrics, 143(4), e20182591.
[3] Pew Research Center. (2021). Teens, social media & technology 2021. Retrieved from https://www.pewinternet.org/2021/04/08/teens-social-media-technology-2021/
[4] Przybylski, A. K., Weinstein, N., & Murayama, K. (2017). The role of self-regulation in the effects of screen media on adolescents' well-being. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46(1), 18-32.
[5] Antunes, A., & Duarte, J. (2021). Children, Young People and Media: (Dis)Connected Lives? Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349703241_Children_Young_People_and_Media_DisConnected_Lives
[6] Ofcom. (2020). Children and parents: media use and attitudes report 2020. Retrieved from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/media-use-and-attitudes/children/childrens-media-literacy-report-2020/children-and-parents-media-use-and-attitudes-report-2020
- Portugal may also have similar trends in teenagers' media usage, especially considering that social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram are popular worldwide.
- As the news consumption of teenagers indicates, technology plays a crucial role in their lifestyle, with social media platforms serving as primary sources for entertainment, social connection, and self-expression.
- Moreover, lifestyles in Portugal might reflect global trends of girls being the main producers of content, particularly on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, while boys lean more towards video gaming and sports-related content.
