Social media plays a significant role in the lives of both adults and teenagers, but the platforms they use and how they engage with them can differ dramatically. According to the Pew Research Center, 47% of U.S. adults use Instagram, making it the third most popular social media app, behind YouTube and Facebook.
For teenagers, however, the landscape shifts. YouTube remains the most popular platform, used by 93% of teens. TikTok ranks second at 64%, followed by Snapchat at 60%, and Instagram at 59%. Interestingly, 47% of teens report using Instagram daily.
If we rewind a decade, today’s adult social media habits closely resemble the preferences of teenagers in 2014. Back then, Facebook was the dominant platform among teens, with Instagram following closely behind, while Snapchat and Twitter rounded out the mix. Over the last 10 years, however, teenagers’ social media habits have evolved significantly.
What This Means for Parents
These shifts underscore that teens not only gravitate toward different platforms than their parents, but they also use social media for distinct purposes. Complicating matters further, as parents gain familiarity with the platforms their teens use, new apps often emerge, drawing teens to the "next big thing."
We see the seriousness of this problem daily. We see headlines like “Mental health experts warn to watch social media use by teens”, “The war to save our teens from social media”, and “Teens are feeling pressured and burned out. Here’s how to help” everywhere. This has placed immense pressure on social media companies to implement measures to protect young users.
Instagram's New "Teen Accounts"
Instagram is one of the latest platforms to roll out safeguards with its “Teen Accounts” feature. These accounts come with built-in protections, including:
- Private accounts by default
- Restrictions on who can message teens
- Filters for sensitive content on the Explore page
- Limits on tagging or mentions
- Time limit reminders
- The introduction of a "Sleep Mode" feature
While these measures are well-intentioned, they are far from foolproof. Tech-savvy teens can easily bypass many of these restrictions. They might turn off protections, create secondary accounts, or use friends’ devices to access unrestricted versions of the app. Moreover, the “Teen Accounts” feature cannot be enforced by parents and doesn’t allow for passcode protection, making it reliant on teens’ willingness to comply.
A Smarter Solution: CentraCom and Bark
To truly safeguard your child’s online experience, parents need tools that go beyond what social media companies provide. That’s why CentraCom offers Bark, a comprehensive app designed to help parents manage and monitor their children’s online activity.
With Bark, you can:
- Monitor your child's social media for issues such as bullying, predators, or inapproriate content
- Recieve alerts for potential risks, including sexual content and threats of violence
- Set time limits for apps and screen usage
- Filter websites or block categories of content
- Enable location alerts to stay aware of your child's whereabouts
When paired with CentraCom’s CentraGuard app, Bark equips parents with the tools they need to confidently navigate the challenges of raising children in the digital age. Together, these solutions empower families to stay informed, maintain healthy boundaries, and ensure their children’s safety online.
Take Action Today
As the digital world continues to evolve, staying proactive is key. Explore how CentraCom and Bark can help you support your child’s online journey while keeping them safe at centracom.com/bark today.
