2020 Report from The Social Institute Reveals 20 New Insights about Students and Social Media
Durham, N.C., For Immediate Release – The Social Institute, whose mission is to empower millions of students nationwide to navigate social media and technology in positive, healthy, and high-character ways, today released its 2020 Report: 20 insights from a recent nationwide survey of 13,000+ students from both independent and public schools.
Among the survey’s key findings: Snapchat is the preferred app for 9th through 12th graders, while 6th through 8th graders prefer YouTube to all other apps. Instagram was ranked as the second most popular app for both groups.
When it comes to cell phone ownership, less than half of 5th graders report having their own phone (42 percent), and that number steadily increases each year until 9th grade, where 98 percent of students have their own phone.
When it comes to how students are navigating social media and technology, The Social Institute Founder and CEO Laura Tierney says schools have an opportunity to lean into positive peer influence to strengthen their culture and students’ character and decision-making. “We’re finding that a percentage of students within each school understand how to navigate social media positively, and that understanding strengthens as they progress from 5th to 12th grade. Schools are leveraging that insight to help empower the full student body to make positive, high-character choices. Imagine 12th graders inspiring 10th graders, or 6th graders learning from 8th graders. The future of positive social media education in schools is deeply rooted in student leadership.”
Other key student findings include:
- 56 percent of 9th through 12th grade students say they are likely to speak up if someone is using their phone while driving
- 66 percent of 5th grade students say they have not signed a technology contract at home
- 29 percent of 6th grade students say they “almost never” talk with a trusted adult about what they experience on social platforms (including texting, gaming, and social media)
The Social Institute also polled parents. Key parent findings include:
- 84 percent of parents polled say they do use social media
- 80 percent of parents admit they look at the phone with kids in the car
- 13 percent of parents say their family has a technology contract at home
- 86 percent of parents talk with their child(ren) about what they experience on social platforms (including texting, gaming, and social media)
The survey also asked students how they would respond to certain situations on social media, such as handling mistakes, dealing with explicit content, and navigating mean behavior on group chats. To view the full 2020 Report, including more insights, visit TheSocialInstitute.com/Insights.
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About The Social Institute
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.
Press Contacts:
Jill Dykes, The Social Institute PR, jill@jilldykespr.com
The Social Institute, contact@thesocialinst.com, TheSocialInstitute.com/Contact-Us