Teens Donвђ™t Seem Super Concerned About Social M... Now

: Roughly 75% of young people find social media's terms of service difficult to understand due to technical language, leading to a sense of powerlessness. Teens, Social Media, and Privacy - Pew Research Center

: Only 14% of teens feel social media personally affects them negatively, suggesting they believe they are "immune" to the risks they see affecting their peers. Teens don’t seem super concerned about social m...

Teens often distinguish between (who can see their posts) and "informational privacy" (what data companies collect). : Roughly 75% of young people find social

Experts point to several reasons why teens may seem unconcerned: Experts point to several reasons why teens may

Current research suggests that while U.S. teens are increasingly aware of the broader societal risks of social media, they often maintain a "privacy paradox"—expressing concern for their reputations while remaining largely indifferent to data collection by major tech companies. Recent surveys from the Pew Research Center and Common Sense Media highlight a shifting landscape of digital awareness as of 2024–2025.

While personal concern remains low, collective concern is rising:

: The adolescent brain is highly sensitive to social rewards (likes, comments), which often overrides the more abstract, long-term risks of data sharing.