A new Gallup survey says more than half of U.S. teenagers, 51 percent, say they spend at least four hours per day using a variety of social media apps from YouTube to TikTok
This use amounts to 4.8 hours per day for the average U.S. teen across seven social media platforms tested in the survey.
Across age groups, the average time spent on social media ranges from as low as 4.1 hours per day for 13-year-olds to as high as 5.8 hours per day for 17-year-olds.
As for restricting their kids’ time spent on social media, from all ages 3 to 18, the survey found that 41 percent of very conservative parents say they restrict screen time. Only about 25 percent of parents who say describe themselves as conservative, moderate, liberal or very liberal do the same.
The Gallup survey also points to studies that found that teens who spend more time on social media rate themselves as being less conscientious and live with parents who are less likely to restrict screen time.
The report from Gallup also says parents need to know that studies have shown that the tech companies manipulate users into spending more time on the apps through their designs.
So basically parents are not only fighting their kids own desires but also the companies that try to capture even more time from their kids.
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