Benefits of Social Media for Teens Under 16

Question: What are the benefits of social media for youth under 16 years old?  

Answer: Thank you for this question! Social media has both risks and benefits, and experiences vary widely among youth. This previous portal response  addresses the benefits of technology and social media use for adolescents in general. These benefits include:  

• Social connection and social support  
• Identity exploration, self-expression, self-affirmation, and community support   
• Information seeking related to interests and hobbies  
• Opportunities for civic engagement and social activism  

Connection 

Several studies have looked at how social media can be beneficial, specifically for younger teens (under 16). For example, using social media platforms to stay connected with peers can help improve friendship closeness and interaction. One long-term study found that social media was especially helpful for strengthening relationships with friends that they already know. Another study found that adolescents who used social media platforms like Instagram or WhatsApp to stay in touch with their friends more often experienced a greater sense of closeness.  

Learning and Self-Expression 

In addition to supporting social connection, social media can also be used to help adolescents find information related to interests, hobbies, and even health.  A review of many studies describes how social media can be used to promote, support, and provide health information within online communities. It can also be used to support mental and social development. For example, social media platforms used for self-expression can boost self-esteem and help youth to practice social skills.   

Social Media Use at Younger Ages 

While there are potential benefits for using social media for children under age 16 as described above, studies have generally found increased risks for negative outcomes in children using social media who were younger than age 13.*  

*Note: these studies looked at “traditional” social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram but did not include online video streaming platforms like YouTube or messaging apps. 

See this previous post for more information about when to introduce social media. 

Tips and Additional Resources 

To help lean into the benefits of social media while avoiding potential risks, consider the following tips and resources:  

• The AAP’s Family Tip Sheet helps families create a plan to build healthy digital habits and manage social media step-by-step. It includes tips such as using the Family Media Plan, setting good examples, talking about social media, optimizing online experiences, and balancing time with and without devices.   
• This webpage, titled “The Good and the Bad of Social Media: What Research Tells Us” provides a comprehensive list of both the risks and benefits of social media, which can help you determine what is best for you and your family in terms of social media use.   
•  The video, “Social Media: Enjoy the Upsides & Avoid the Downsides,” describes the methods for leaning into the positives while avoiding the negatives of social media.   
• Consider using both tech and non-tech tools as part of your wellness routine. Check out the Navigating Social Media: Teen Wellness Toolkit, which provides a collection of teen-friendly resources designed to support mental health and healthier social media use. The toolkit includes Center of Excellence resources such as the Glossary of Digital Media Platforms, which can help you learn more about specific features or settings you can set to support healthier digital habits, or the Calm Toolbox, which can help you to manage stress if you’re feeling overwhelmed online.  
• Work with your family to set balanced media guidelines for everyone using the AAP Family Media Plan  

References  

• Angelini, F., Koning, I. M., Gini, G., Marino, C., & Van Den Eijnden, R. J. (2025). Adolescent social media use profiles: A longitudinal study of friendship quality and socio-motivational factors. Computers in Human Behavior, 108880.   
• Hamm, Michele P, et al. “A Systematic Review of the Use and Effectiveness of Social Media in Child Health.” BMC Pediatrics, vol. 14, no. 1, 2 June 2014..  
• Hayes, B., et al. “Children’s Risk and Benefit Behaviours on Social Networking Sites.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 130, May 2022, p. 107147.  
• Pouwels, J. L., Valkenburg, P. M., Beyens, I., van Driel, I. I., & Keijsers, L. (2021). Social media use and friendship closeness in adolescents' daily lives: An experience sampling study. Developmental psychology, 57(2), 309–323.   

Age: 10-15  

Topics: Benefits of Social Media, Mental Health, young teen  

Role: Youth