The devices they use, the apps they’re on, and the time they spend online may all have changed, but young people still report that social media (mostly) helps them feel close to their friends.

From 2018 to 2024, there’s been little change in how young people report that social media use affects their friendships so, we can't simply say that more online spells trouble for their friendships. It's a bit more complicated than that. In 2018 two thirds of young people said social media helped them feel closer to friends most or all of the time. In 2024 that was 70%. Clearly a small rise but no means a huge jump.

Back in 2019, some research hinted at a fascinating dynamic.¹It suggested that when young people frequently communicate online with their existing friends, it actually boosts their wellbeing. Both boys and girls seemed to benefit from this, and navigating online communication has become a integral part of in-person friendships. But, when it comes to chatting with friends they’ve made online and don’t know in person, it wasn't such a rosy picture with some not-so-great effects on their wellbeing. So, it's not just about the quantity of online time, but also the quality and context of those online friendships matters.

This will be an interesting one to watch if a social media ban is brought into law in the future for UK teenagers.