Evidence Library
Comprehensive data charts, academic papers, and statistical analysis on the impact of social media on children and adolescents.
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Proportion of 13–17-years-old who have seen different types of violent content on social media in the past 12 months
This table shows the prevalence of specific violent and illegal content that 13- to 17-year-olds have encountered online. A total of 70% of children report having seen some form of violence, with fights involving young people (56%) and threats of physical harm (43%) being the most commonly reported experiences. Significant exposure to illegal or high-risk activities was also reported, with 38% of young people seeing content related to illegal drug use and 35% seeing the carrying or use of weapons. Furthermore, 33% of respondents report seeing the promotion of gangs or illegal drugs. Even the least prevalent categories, such as glorifying previous attacks (29%) and sexually violent content (27%), affect over a quarter of those surveyed, highlighting widespread exposure to various digital risks.
Proportion of children who have perpetrated violence who say that social media has played a role
This table illustrates the influence of social media mechanisms on adolescent violence. While 35% of respondents report no connection, a significant 64% of perpetrators cite digital triggers as the main cause of their behaviour. The data reveal that the most common catalysts for physical aggression are online arguments (23%) and 'online disinhibition,' whereby children feel safer saying things they would not say face-to-face (23%). Furthermore, features such as tagging peers into conflicts and live-streaming fights demonstrate how platform design can be used to broadcast and intensify violence, transforming digital disputes into real-world harm.
The proportion of children using social media platforms who have seen violent content
This table shows the percentage of children using various social media and messaging platforms who have encountered violent content. Exposure is most prevalent on TikTok (44%) and X (43%), with nearly half of young users on these platforms reporting that they have seen such material. Around one-third of children encounter violent content on Facebook (33%), Snapchat (32%) and Instagram (31%). Moderate exposure levels are reported on community and video sites such as YouTube and Reddit (both 26%), with lower rates observed on private messaging services like WhatsApp (18%) and Discord (12%). The lowest reported exposure rates occur on specialised communication and streaming tools, including Twitch (6%) and iMessage (5%). The data indicates a clear hierarchy of risk, with public, algorithmically driven platforms showing significantly higher rates of exposure to violent content than private messaging apps.