Race and gender shape teens’ platform news

Pew’s survey of 1,458 U.S. teens (ages 13–17) finds substantial differences in which platforms teens use and why: Black teens are more likely to use TikTok and to say they get news there, while motivations for using Instagram and Snapchat vary by race and gender. The data show that platform choice intersects with identity to determine news exposure, product recommendations and social connections. — Demographic differences in platform use change who sees what information and how platforms should be regulated, moderated, or studied for youth safety and civic exposure.