Raising kids in the digital age can be a challenge, but not everyone understands just how much of a challenge it is. The key word here is digital, because the advent of tech and social media has transformed how kids interact with the world around them — not to mention their friends, school, and even you as their parent.
We’ve assembled some eye-opening stats that will give you — or maybe even grandparents or your friends without kids — more context into what it’s like to be raising a digital native these days. This way, you can better understand the habits, preferences, and even dangers facing your child.
5 Stats About Kids and Tech Every Parent Needs to Know in 2025
1. 26% of kids use ChatGPT
AI is everywhere these days, and no where is it more popular than among kids trying to do their schoolwork. More than a quarter admitted to using it for school in 2024, which is double the amount from 2023. Debates are still raging about ChatGPT’s place in education, but in the meantime, you may want to talk to your kid about their thoughts on it and if they’ve used it. Check out this post for more information and pointers on starting the discussion.
2. 15% of teens use YouTube “almost constantly”
According to Pew Research Center, 90% of kids watch YouTube, with 15% of them using it near constantly, which can mean hours a day. It’s interesting to note the generational differences with YouTube that explain this stat. For Gen X and Millenials, YouTube is an occasional stop for music videos, funny cat shorts, or movie clips. For Gen Z and Gen Alpha, however, YouTube is the destination – full stop. For many young people, it’s more akin to watching Netflix or Hulu, and they feel comfortable pulling up a series of videos from their favorite creator and parking there for the evening.
3. 71% of tweens have encountered cyberbullying
This stat from Bark’s 2024 annual report reveals just how common it is for kids to experience cyberbullying, either as a victim, bully, or witness. From hurtful comments on Instagram posts to ganging up on someone in a group chat, bullying can affect a child’s sense of self-worth, cause anxiety, and even lead to depression. This means it’s crucial to know what’s going on in your child’s digital world. Make sure they know they can always come to you for help if someone’s bothering them.
4. 41% of teens say they play video games at least once a day
Kids and video games have been a thing since the days of old-school arcades, and today 85% of young people play them. Unlike in the past, though, video games can be played 24/7 on tons of different devices — from cell phones to home consoles. For many kids, playing video games takes up a lot of their screen time, and this can present some issues. From bullying in multi-player games to extremely violent and disturbing content. Also, many gamers use apps like Discord to chat, and these present their own dangers, as well.
5. 64% of kids surveyed under 13 had social media — despite 13 being the minimum age
This one’s interesting because many parents don’t realize that most of the major social media platforms — Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok — are off limits to kids 12 and under. But how do kids create accounts if they’re underage, you may be wondering. The answer is unfortunately easy — these apps don’t have guardrails preventing kids from fudging their birthdates. Social media is negatively affecting kids (whether they’re of legal age or not), and the U.S. surgeon general even recently issued a warning about its many dangers.
How Bark Can Help
Staying actively involved in your kid’s online world is definitely a must for parents today. Here are just a few things that you can do to take control of your child’s online safety.
- Join half a million other digital parents in Parenting in a Tech World, a Facebook group where families can ask questions, share advice, and support each other.
- Read The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt’s revolutionary new book that details how phone-based childhoods are affecting young people’s mental health.
- Sign up for our free Overwhelmed to Empowered newsletter and get parenting tech tips straight to your box.
- Tune in to our Parenting in a Tech World podcast for more guidance and insight.
You can also learn about all of the family tech products we offer. Bark has a variety of tools that help parents protect their kids online, including the Bark Phone, the Bark Watch, the Bark app, and the Bark Home. Check out our products page to find out which one is the best fit for your family.
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Bark helps families manage and protect their children’s digital lives.
