Hopelab & Well Being Trust 59
Importance of Social Media
Social media is more important to young people for communicating
with close friends than for making new friends or getting support and
advice. Forty-three percent of teens and young adults say social media
is "very" important to them for communicating with their close friends;
far fewer (26%) say it is very important for keeping up with what's
going on in their social circle. And even fewer consider social media
very important for feeling less alone (15%), making new friends
(12%), or getting support or advice (12%).
Figure 11: Reported importance of social media
in young people's lives
Among 14- to 22-year-old social media users, percent
who say social media is important to them for:
Source: Hopelab/Well Being Trust Teens and Young Adults Survey,
February-March 2018. N=1,242 social media users ages 14-22.
77%
70%
57%
45%
46%
43%
51%
Communicating with close friends
Keeping up with what's going on in social circle
Getting inspiration from others
Feeling less alone
Making new friends
Getting support or advice when needed
Expressing oneself creatively
Very Somewhat
Social Media Use and Mental Well-Being
Social Media Use Among Teens and Young Adults
