Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube have moved into an area online once dominated by Facebook, revealing a shift in the social media landscape; this shift is down to smartphone ownership, according to a new report published by the Pew Research Center.
"Most notably smartphone ownership has become a nearly ubiquitous element of teen life: 95 percent of teens now report they have a smartphone or access to one," the report says.
Teenagers Prefer YouTube Over Facebook: Report https://t.co/lxi0G62nsV via @digitaliworld
— Steve Phillip (@Linked2Steve) June 5, 2018
Teenagers aged between 13 and 17 are using YouTube more frequently and for longer than they ever used Facebook, dropping from 71 percent to around 50 percent.
Around 95 percent of teenagers in the US say they have access to a smartphone, up 22 percent since 2014-2015. However computer access still varies depending on the level of education among parents.
The study also suggest nearly half of all American teenagers spend almost their entire life online.
"These mobile connections are in turn fuelling more persistent online activities: 45 percent of teens now say they are online on a near constant basis," the report states.
READ MORE: Cyber Security Expert: Zuckerberg Wasn't Honest Saying Users Control Their Data
Let my Gen Z teen tell it and she believes… Facebook is not the way to go. Audiences 10-30 are heavily on Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. #SheHasSpoken 😉
— Jennifer drJ Thibeaux (@JennThibeaux) June 5, 2018
Facebook Stories vs. Instagram Stories: What's Best for Your Business? https://t.co/HNenp6AuYg
The report says the number of teens using the internet "almost constantly" has nearly doubled since its previous study carried out four years ago, however it would appear they're not just spending their lives on Facebook, choosing other social media sites and playing video games instead.
Video gaming is nearly universal for teen boys in the U.S. https://t.co/W2fV5IZyoW pic.twitter.com/nGl56eEoRa
— Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) June 5, 2018
