Social Media
United States
Did you know?
The phrase "social media" didn't come onto the scene until the mid-1990s?
Worldwide
63%
of adults worldwide are on some type of social media
73%
of American adults are on some type of social media
83%
of Americans are on Youtube, the most used platform
45%
of users worldwide are on Youtube
The internet changed the world forever.
Social media changed it again.
Americans are struggling to balance this new technology and the indulgences that come with it. We aren't the only country either.
What platforms are consuming most of our time?
What are the negative impacts of social media and screen time?
What are other countries doing to protect their youth?
And what are experts recommending?
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Youtube might be the most popular
by % worldwide, but how does it compare to the other
popular social media platforms?
Check out more statistics below.
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Social
Media
Platforms
TikTok
37% of Americans
use TikTok
vs.
20% Worldwide
​
50% of Americans
use Instagram
vs.
28% Worldwide
​
71% of Americans
use Facebook
vs.
37% Worldwide
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Adults
Teenagers
Negative
Impacts
There are many ways that social media is negatively
impacting people--short term, long term, physically, and mentally.
Physical Health
When it comes to physical health, there is an increased risk of sedentary lifestyle, sleep disruption, vision problems over time, and of obesity.
Anxiety & Depression
When it comes to feelings of overwhelming anxiety and nervous behaviors, screen time and social media create problems and/or worsen these over time.
Hyperactivity
There are connections between kids having two hours or more of screen time a day and hyperactivity/ADHD. Doctors urge parents to minimize if not delete a child's screen time altogether.
Misinformation
Misinformation spreads six times faster than factual information, especially on social media.
Isolation
"If loneliness is a virus, excessive screentime is like running a temperature. "
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-Yale University Press
Negative Self-Image
"Teens and young adults who reduced their social media use by 50% for just a few weeks saw significant improvement in how they felt about both their weight and their overall appearance.
Around the World:
A Sample of
Policies in Place
CHINA
2023:
China's cyberspace regulator implemented a "minor mode" :
Under 8 years old is limited to 40 minutes of daily device usage.
8 to 15 years old: 1-2 hours.
16 to 17 years old: 2 hours.
Under 18: Prohibited from using apps and mobile devices between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
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Read more here:
https://cjil.uchicago.edu/print-archive/kids-no-phones-dinner-table-analyzing-peoples-republic-chinas-proposed-minor-mode
AUSTRALIA
2025:
SOCIAL MEDIA WAS BANNED FOR KIDS 16 and UNDER.
This includes: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit and streaming platforms Kick and Twitch.
Read more here...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyp9d3ddqyo
GERMANY
2026:
Minors aged 13-16 are allowed to use social media ​only if their parents provide consent, but the government is working on banning social media for anyone under the age of 14.
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Read more here:
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/germanys-ruling-party-backs-social-media-curbs-children-2026-02-21/
American Academy of Pediatrics
No screen time for
children ages two
and below. Their brain needs time to develop without it.
​
​
American Academy of Pediatrics
​
1 hour
a day for ages three
to five, with parents monitoring and watching some with their child.
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Mayo Clinic
Turn on Privacy Settings.​
​
Than prevent any unintentionalsharing of personal information.
What are
experts
recommending?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Report cyber bullying, and any form of harassment and exploitation.
From medical doctors to psychiatrists to government officials, expert opinions are abound to help parents and users themselves get a handle on screen time and social media's impact on their health.
The Social Dilemma
Experts
Keep phones out of the bedroom at a fixed time
every night. ​
Stanford Medicine
Delay or limit access to social media as long as possible. This gives the brain more time to develop.
Conclusion
The power has always been and will always be in our hands.
Screen time and social media in particular can have detrimental consequences,
but its conscientious and responsible use can also create
positive ripples in our lives and the world around us.
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We have to be smarter than the machines we build.
We have to be in control of our own lives.
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