Screen TimeSocial MediaVaccines

The most recent survey, fielded online by the global research firm Ipsos from Oct. 14–22, 2021, asked 1,019 parents about their practices around screen time, social media, guns, mental health, conversations with children and the COVID-19 vaccines — with some of the questions posed as a follow-on to a 2020 survey.

How children are allowed to use social media, which apps they use, how parents monitor, and how parents talk to their kids about social media.

Behavior: Social media platforms used by child, according to parent (2020)

All Children

Ages 0-5
n = 345

Ages 6-12
n = 501

Ages 13-17
n = 507

Facebook

39.2%

24.9%

32.9%

55.0%

Snapchat

31.4%

11.6%

25.9%

50.3%

TikTok

24.2%

14.2%

24.0%

31.4%

Twitter

19.9%

15.1%

15.0%

28.0%

Pinterest

11.0%

8.1%

9.0%

15.0%

Other

5.1%

1.2%

3.0%

9.9%

None

40.9%

67.8%

47.5%

16.2%

Behavior: At what age did you allow your child on social media? (2020)

Opened their first account when they were:

All Children

Children who are currently
6-12 years old
n = 501

Children who are currently
13-18 years old
n = 507

Under age 5

13.1%

9.1%

2.1%

Age 5

6.4%

4.2%

0.2%

Age 6

1.8%

4.2%

0.7%

Age 7

3.1%

8.4%

0.7%

Age 8

6.4%

17.1%

1.4%

Age 9

6.0%

14.4%

2.4%

Age 10

12.3%

24.0%

8.2%

Age 11

6.9%

10.3%

6.6%

Age 12

16.1%

8.4%

25.2%

Age 13

14.0%

N/A

26.4%

Age 14

7.4%

N/A

13.9%

Age 15

4.0%

N/A

7.5%

Age 16

1.9%

N/A

3.5%

Age 17

0.5%

N/A

0.9%

Age 18

0.1%

N/A

0.2%

Note: This data represents parents who said their child currently uses at least one social media account.

Norms: At what age do you think most parents allow children on social media? (2020)

Perceived age

All Children

Children who are currently
6-12 years old
n = 501

Children who are currently
13-18 years old
n = 507

Under age 5

5.8%

3.0%

2.4%

Age 5

3.5%

2.8%

0.2%

Age 6

2.5%

4.2%

1.4%

Age 7

2.8%

5.2%

0.6%

Age 8

7.4%

11.0%

4.1%

Age 9

5.8%

9.0%

4.5%

Age 10

22.3%

25.3%

20.9%

Age 11

4.9%

5.2%

5.9%

Age 12

16.6%

13.4%

21.3%

Age 13

13.5%

10.6%

18.1%

Age 14

5.6%

3.6%

8.1%

Age 15

3.3%

2.2%

4.3%

Age 16

2.8%

1.8%

3.6%

Age 17

0.7%

0.2%

1.4%

Age 18

2.6%

2.6%

3.2%

Rules: How parents monitor social media (2021)

All Children

Ages 0-5
n = 323

Ages 6-12
n = 396

Ages 13-17
n = 300

I have household rules that limit the amount of screen time my child can have

39.0%

40.6%

48.5%

24.7%

I talked to my child about their online activities

34.3%

17.0%

43.4%

41.0%

I checked my child's phone or computer to see which websites my child visited

22.5%

12.4%

30.8%

22.3%

I read through my child's social media posts

11.7%

5.3%

16.4%

12.3%

I am "friends" with my child on social media so I can see what they post

15.0%

4.6%

18.4%

21.7%

I used electronic parental controls to place limits on my child's online activities or cell phone use

25.1%

25.4%

30.6%

17.7%

I took my child's phone to look through their texts, emails, and direct messages

14.8%

6.5%

19.4%

17.7%

I used other strategies to regulate my child's screen time

7.7%

9.3%

8.8%

4.3%

I don't actively regulate my child's use of screens

18.8%

26.0%

7.1%

26.7%

Talking to teens: Frequency of conversations about social media imagery (2021)

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Always

How often do you talk to your child about comparing themselves or how they look to the people and images they see on social media?

13.7%

22.7%

34.3%

22.3%

7.0%

N = 300

Talking to children 6 to 12: Frequency of conversations about social media imagery (2021)

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Always

How often do you talk to your child about comparing themselves or how they look to the people and images they see on social media?

14.9%

18.7%

32.6%

19.7%

N = 396