Latino teens TikTok use reveals a clear trend toward entertainment over news, raising questions about information access, mental health, and digital influence in U.S. youth culture.
Latino teens overwhelmingly prefer to use TikTok for entertainment rather than as a source of news or political information. This is according to the latest survey released by Pew Research Center, which for the first time takes an in-depth look at teen preferences in the United States.
For years, the Pew Research Center has tracked how social media use varies across demographic groups, including race, ethnicity, and gender. But this new study dives deeper into three major platforms—TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat—revealing that teens’ experiences are shaped not only by the platforms they use, but also by who they are.
Approximately 70% of Hispanic teens in the U.S. (ages 13–17) use TikTok, with about 25% to 32% reporting that they use it “almost constantly,” making them among the most active users compared to other demographic groups. Research also shows that Black and Hispanic teens are more likely than their White peers to use TikTok and Instagram on a daily basis.
Latina teens, in particular, are more frequent TikTok users than their male counterparts.
Beyond TikTok, Hispanic teens are also heavy users of WhatsApp, with 34% reporting usage—higher than Black teens (22%) and White teens (16%).
According to 2025 data, 92% of U.S. teens use YouTube, making it the most dominant platform by far. TikTok follows with 68% adoption, while Instagram reaches 63% of teens.
When it comes to purpose, 97% of Latino and White teens surveyed say they use TikTok primarily for entertainment, compared to 95% of Black teens. Among Latino teens, usage drops significantly for other purposes: 74% use it to connect with others, 59% to explore products, 44% to get news, and only 26% for political content.
Black teens stand out for their use of TikTok as a news source. About six in ten Black teens on the platform say they turn to it for news—higher than both Hispanic and White teens. They are also more likely to use TikTok for product recommendations, following athletes or celebrities, and connecting with others.
While Black teens do not differ as much from their peers on Snapchat and Instagram, they consistently stand out across all three platforms for seeking news content.
Parents and Mental Health
Parents generally view social media’s impact on their teens more negatively than positively.
Sleep and productivity: About four in ten parents say social media harms both the amount of sleep their teens get and their productivity. Few believe it has a positive effect in these areas.
Mental health: Parents are also more likely to say social media harms rather than helps their teen’s mental health (24% vs. 8%).
Friendships: However, parents tend to be more positive about social media’s role in friendships. Around one in five say it helps their teen build or maintain friendships, compared to 13% who say it has a negative impact.
Still, about a quarter or more of parents believe social media has little to no impact on their teens in these areas.
Many Americans think social media has a negative impact on politics
