SURVEY: Distinct Ways Teens Engage with TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat Revealed

Published April 16, 2026

A survey conducted by Pew Research Center involving 1,458 teenagers discovered that entertainment is the primary motivation for using TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, with 90% of respondents indicating this as their main reason. Despite this commonality, each platform fulfills unique roles: TikTok users predominantly look for product reviews and news updates, whereas Snapchat is the top choice for daily messaging, used by 57% of its users.

Approximately 30% of TikTok users admit to spending excessive amounts of time on the app, a higher proportion than those on Instagram or Snapchat. Furthermore, TikTok has a more pronounced negative effect on sleep, impacting 40% of its users, compared to 25% for both Instagram and Snapchat.

Snapchat is notably recognized for its positive influence on friendships, with 44% of users reporting beneficial effects.

The majority of teens across all three platforms indicate that these social media sites neither significantly improve nor harm their mental health.

Cyberbullying is a concern for about 30% of Snapchat users, a rate that is higher than those reported on other platforms.

Overall, 70% of teenagers describe their experiences on each platform as mostly positive.