Largest Ever Survey Reveals How Social Media and Tech Impact Students and Their Experiences

The Social Institute’s 4th Annual Student Survey Arms Educators to Better Understand Students and Equip them to Navigate Social Media and Tech in High-character Ways.

DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Social Institute, whose mission is to empower millions of students to navigate their social world -- including social media and technology -- in positive, healthy, and high-character ways, released its 2024 Student Insights Report: How Social Media, Tech, and Current Events Impact Student Well-Being. This report reflects insights shared by more than 29,000 students in TSI’s Annual Student Survey and more than one million responses from its K-12 collaborative learning platform, #WinAtSocial -- making it the largest data set of its kind, spanning grades 3 - 12 in schools across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Each year, The Social Institute asks students nationwide to share insights into trending apps, positive ways to navigate common but complex social situations, everyday challenges faced online and off, and what adults should know about well-being, social media, and technology. Educators can use the insights to gain a deeper understanding of their students, helping them to improve school culture and community well-being.

Among this year’s key findings:

• The majority of students are getting their first smartphone at 11 years old
• 73% of students say social media is the most popular way to get news
• 87% of 9th - 12th graders say social media helps them explore hobbies and interests
• 60% of 6th - 8th graders say that social media helps them learn social skills
• 61% of 3rd - 5th graders say social media helps them do well in school

“These insights are invaluable for educators, because the better you understand students, the more effectively you can empower them to navigate their social world -- including social media and technology -- to fuel their health, happiness, and future success,” said Laura Tierney, Founder and CEO of The Social Institute. “As a team of digital natives and educators, we have seen first-hand how this ever-changing, complex world of technology impacts students.”

Other key student findings include:

• 48 percent of 6th-grade students said they would speak up if a family member is using their phone while driving
• 49 percent of 7th-grade students say they feel the need to respond to a text within 10 minutes of receiving it, or even sooner
• 64 percent of 10th-grade students say their social media profile genuinely reflects who they are

The survey also asked students how they would respond to certain situations on social media, such as dealing with explicit content and navigating mean behavior in group chats. To learn more and view the full 2024 Report, including more insights, visit https://app.hubspot.com/documents/7235441/view/723211956?accessId=cf7165.

About The Social Institute

The Social Institute (TSI) provides a gamified, online learning platform that empowers students to navigate their social world — social media and technology — to fuel their health, happiness, and future success. By reinforcing character strengths like empathy, integrity, and teamwork and by showcasing their role models (from student leaders to U.S. Olympians), we use a relevant, positive approach to inspire students to make positive, high-character choices.