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- A recent survey by Piper Sandler indicates that Instagram is the leading app among US teens.
- TikTok ranks second in usage but is favored most by users.
- Snapchat has seen a decline in both popularity and engagement among young people.
The popularity of Instagram among teenagers continues to soar.
According to the latest findings from investment bank Piper Sandler’s survey targeting US adolescents, Instagram stands out as the most utilized social media platform, while TikTok holds the title for being the most liked app.
This fall, Piper Sandler conducted a survey involving approximately 13,500 teenagers across the United States to gain insights into their preferences regarding social media platforms as well as trends in fashion and food consumption.
The results revealed that 87% of respondents reported using Instagram at least once a month. This marks an increase from 80% last year and represents a record high since Piper Sandler initiated this survey back in 2016.
TikTok follows closely behind as the second most popular app with 79% of teens indicating monthly usage—up from 74% last year. Snapchat ranks third with a monthly user rate of 71%, down from its previous figure of 74% recorded last fall. Other platforms such as Pinterest (41%), Twitter (30%), and Facebook (30%) are trailing significantly behind in terms of monthly engagement this season.
Representatives from TikTok and Meta did not respond to requests for comments regarding these findings. A spokesperson for Snap also declined to provide any remarks on this matter.
Shifting Trends Among Teenagers on Social Media Platforms
What accounts for Instagram’s remarkable success? One possible explanation could be that Meta’s strategic initiatives aimed at competing with platforms like TikTok, Discord, and Snapchat are finally yielding positive results.
Instagram has enhanced its features significantly by introducing elements such as temporary notes (statuses that refresh every day), interactive comments on stories, sharing options with close friends, along with various new ways to engage through direct messages—including AI bot integrations—to attract younger audiences effectively.
“When analyzing how teens allocate their time on Instagram,” stated Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram during an interview on Harry Stebbing’s podcast “20VC,” “it becomes evident they spend more time engaging through DMs than viewing stories; likewise they dedicate more time to stories than scrolling through their feeds.”
The dominance exhibited by Instagram over its rivals has been corroborated by data analytics firms like Sensor Tower which noted an uptick in downloads for this Meta-owned application earlier this year.
Despite securing top position regarding user engagement amongst American adolescents, TikTok emerged as their favorite platform overall. Approximately 39% indicated it was their preferred choice compared to just 32% who favored Instagram and another 18% who chose Snapchat according to Piper Sandler’s report findings.
The decline observed in Snapchat’s user base may signal troubling times ahead for a company historically recognized as a primary messaging service among youth demographics. In an investor presentation earlier this April, Snap claimed it reached around 90% of individuals aged between thirteen and twenty-four years old across over twenty-five countries globally. However only about eighteen percent identified Snapchat as their favorite platform this fall—a drop from twenty-eight percent recorded during fall last year!
The Dual Nature of Teen Engagement: Opportunities & Challenges
The fluctuating interests displayed by teenagers can present both advantages and challenges for social media applications alike. Recently there have been increasing pressures placed upon Big Tech companies concerning how they safeguard adolescent users’ well-being online; fourteen state attorneys general filed lawsuits against TikTok alleging detrimental effects on mental health experienced by young users just recently! Similarly Meta faced legal action initiated by forty-two attorneys general last year addressing similar concerns surrounding safety protocols implemented within its platforms including those used specifically designed targeting minors under eighteen years old!
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