In an era where digital natives are reshaping the world, understanding the life of a modern teen is critical. The global pandemic has amplified the reliance on digital platforms, making today’s teenage life remarkably different from even 10 years ago. We’ve ventured into the lives of teens across demographics like age, gender, race and ethnicity, geography, etc., exploring their favorite activities, self-perceptions, and priorities.

Discover where teens most likely invest their time, online and offline. What are their life priorities? What stimulates their learning and decision-making? Where do they hunt for trustworthy advice and information? What skills do they value? How do they manage finance and spending? Dive in to uncover the narrative of teenagers today, their decision-making drivers, and their wishlist for a better world.

What: Today's teens must navigate intense academic, social, and financial demands while being bombarded with distractions, digital and otherwise. For higher education institutions, understanding how to support Gen Z’s mental health, priorities, and decision-making is crucial to helping them thrive. This nationally representative study of over 2,000 teens provides a comprehensive look at how they spend their time, their values, and the support they seek as they prepare for their futures. It offers actionable insights to help institutions meet the needs of tomorrow’s students. 

Key Insights: 

• Discover what teens value most – their goals, aspirations, and expectations for higher education.  

• Learn how teens divide their time between friends, family, hobbies, school, and work.

• Gain an understanding of how stressful balancing these competing interests can be for them.

• Understand coping strategies and where they need additional support.  

• Examine their approach to finances to gain insight into how money influences their education and career decisions. 

What’s Included: 

Introduction

Chapter 1: Daily Life and Activities

Chapter 2: Feelings About Activities

Chapter 3: What Teens Value

Chapter 4: Employment and Finances

Chapter 5: Teen Academic Life

Summary

Overall Implications

How: Teens are more than just another demographic – they need to be engaged with respect for their digital fluency and a genuine appreciation for their perspectives. TeenVoice seamlessly integrates with a digital platform where thousands of teens actively participate in a dynamic, incentivized skills development experience tailored to their preferences. By incorporating surveys designed specifically for them, we foster authentic engagement, amplifying their voices and delivering higher-quality data.

This ever-growing community also provides access to fresh participants as needed, enabling real-time insights and diverse perspectives. With 40 years of youth research expertise across social media, academics, and culture, we know how to ask the right questions in the right ways to reveal what teens truly think and feel. The result? Actionable insights that go beyond the numbers, empowering you to connect with the next generation in meaningful and authentic ways.

Why: Understanding today's teens is critical for higher education institutions to remain relevant and effective in their mission. By gaining deep insights into Gen Z's unique challenges and aspirations, institutions can:

• Transform student recruitment and retention by tailoring  programs and messaging with what truly matters to prospective students

• Design more effective mental health and wellness initiatives based on real data about teens' stressors and coping mechanisms

• Create academic support systems that account for how today's teens actually manage their time and responsibilities

• Develop financial aid and education programs that resonate with teens' economic realities and concerns

• Build campus communities and experiences that foster genuine connection in an increasingly digital world

This research empowers institutions to make evidence-based decisions about resource allocation, program development, and student support services. Rather than relying on assumptions or outdated models, you'll have current, actionable data about the students you seek to serve.

Download the report today to gain vital Gen Z insights to help your institution meet the evolving needs of tomorrow's students

As the world rapidly evolves, so does the life of the modern teen. The digital age, accelerated by the global pandemic, has redefined what it means to be a teenager today, differing drastically from even the past decade. Digital natives look for digital solutions for everything from socializing to developing skills to planning the future. We’ve embarked on a fascinating exploration into the diverse world of teens across various demographics, delving into their passions, self-images, and priorities – and time is right to continue helping teenagers navigate these things with digital tools that meet them where they are.

Discover the spaces – both digital and physical – where teens choose to spend their time. What tops their priority list in life? What fuels their learning and decision-making processes, and what tools might make these things easier? Where do they seek reliable counsel and information? What skills do they hold in high esteem? How do they handle financial matters? Embark on this venture to unravel the stories of present-day teenagers, the factors guiding their decisions, and their aspirations for an improved world to better understand how digital solutions can make an impact in their lives.

As we journey through an ever more digital landscape, the lives of today’s teens shift constantly. The digital upheaval, fueled by the global pandemic, has redefined the teenage experience, diverging dramatically from just a decade ago. We’ve embarked on a captivating exploration into the diverse lives of teens across numerous demographics, probing their passions, self-concepts, and priorities – an essential exercise when trying to understand and meet teens’ ever-changing and diverse needs.

Uncover the digital and tangible spaces where teens choose to dedicate their time to make the most impactful contribution to teens’ lives. What are their primary life objectives? What propels their learning and decision-making? Where do they look for reliable guidance and information? Which skills do they prize most? How do they manage financial matters? Join us on this journey to reveal the stories of modern teenagers, the factors influencing their choices, and their hopes for a better world. This information is crucial for non-profit and mission-driven organizations aiming to tailor their programs to the needs and preferences of today’s high schoolers and middle schoolers.

In a time when Gen Z teens are more immersed in the digital world than ever, understanding their digital behaviors is essential for post-secondary institutions, higher education providers, and emerging training and development platforms aiming to align their offerings with current student preferences. Which platforms are capturing their attention? What online activities captivate them the most? How do these digital experiences influence their real-world learning and future career goals? And critically, what role does technology play in their educational journey, and how do they perceive its impact?

Our comprehensive research into the online behaviors and expectations of Gen Z offers crucial insights for Higher Education planners, illuminating where today’s teens spend their time online, their attitudes towards technology and learning, and their expectations for the future in the face of advancements in AI and other digital technologies. Delve into the digital reality of Gen Z to discover current trends and subtleties in their online behavior and understand how these digital tools can inform real-world education decisions and perceptions in the higher education context.

In a world where the youth are spending significant amounts of time online, it’s crucial for non-profit decision-makers to understand their virtual journeys. What online platforms captivate their attention? How are their real-life relationships, academic pursuits, and future influenced by their digital interactions? What role does social media play, and how do they perceive its impact?

Our comprehensive research provides valuable insights into their online behavior and preferences, digital destinations of choice, and perceptions of technology’s role in their education. Uncover the subtleties of middle and high school students’ online lives, learn how digital tools shape their real-world decisions, and understand their sentiments towards these digital experiences. This report is designed to equip non-profit and mission-driven organizations with the knowledge to better connect with, inspire, and influence today’s digitally savvy youth. 

In an era where teens spend more time online than ever, understanding their digital behavior is crucial for those designing educational technology products and programs. What platforms are they gravitating towards? What online activities engage them the most? How do these online experiences influence their real-world learning and future aspirations? And perhaps most importantly, what role does technology play in their education, and how do they perceive its effects?

Our in-depth research into teen online behavior and preferences presents vital insights for Education Technology designers, shedding light on where teens go online, their attitudes towards technology in learning, and what they anticipate for the future with advancements in AI and other digital technologies. Delve into the digital world of teens to uncover current trends and subtleties in their online behavior and understand how these digital tools can influence their real-world education decisions and perceptions. 

Today’s teens spend more time online, but where are they going, and what specifically are they doing there? How does it relate to their real-life friendships, schoolwork, and future plans? What role does social media play in their lives, and how do they perceive its impact?

Our in-depth research with teens details their online behavior and preferences, where they go for different purposes, how they feel technology impacts their learning, and what advances in AI and other digital technologies mean to their lives now and in the future. Dive into the world of teen online life to learn about current trends and nuances in how they conduct their online lives, how digital tools influence their real-life decisions, and how they feel about it all.

While the immediate urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, teens today continue to feel its impact and – whether they’re aware of it or not – their choices have been informed by such tremendous upheaval. During the height of the pandemic, several studies indicated that teens were turning away from higher education – especially four-year college – and turning to community colleges, other training, or careers. Many of these studies implied that teens put a high premium on the location of their jobs, arguably over other job features.

Discover whether all of this is still the case for teens. How far in advance are teens planning for their futures? What, specifically, are their plans and what are their motivations for pursuing their next academic and vocational steps? Do they have a backup plan and what is it? What resources do teens need to prepare for the future and how do needs vary? How do teens really feel about four-year college versus other options? Dive in to uncover teens’ plans for the future, their decision-making drivers, and their wishlist for what they want in their future education and career.

Today’s teens cope with challenges that are both similar to and different from those faced by Millennials and Gen X. What’s familiar? Thinking about the future and balancing busy social lives with school. What’s different? These challenges aren’t just in their physical world, but also in their digital lives. Today’s teens grew up during a pandemic separating them from their friends and driving them to nearly ubiquitous social media use. And now more than ever, they face social and political upheaval.

With all these changes, how are teens doing? How is their overall mental health and how do the ways they spend their time impact it? How stressed are they, and does this stress get in the way of them living their lives? Jump into teens’ brains to learn about their well-being, what they need to help them prioritize their happiness, and how they navigate their increasingly hectic lives. This report is designed to equip non-profit and mission-driven organizations with the knowledge to better connect with and support today’s youth as they navigate their stressful world.

Today’s teens face challenges that are both similar to and different from those faced by prior generations. The familiar include thinking about the future and balancing busy social lives with school. But today’s teens grew up during a pandemic separating them from their friends and driving them to nearly ubiquitous social media use. And now more than ever, they face social and political upheaval with far-reaching impacts.

With all these changes, how are teens doing? How is their overall mental health and how do the ways they spend their time impact it? How stressed are they, and does this stress get in the way of them living their lives? Jump into teens’ brains to learn about their well-being, what they need to help them prioritize their happiness, and how they navigate their increasingly hectic lives.

Yes, teens spend a lot of time online, but it's not just mindless scrolling. They're building digital identities, experimenting with self expression, and shaping online communities. Our study of 2,000+ teens explores how they communicate, create, and consume content across platforms, offering invaluable insights for anyone looking to understand today’s digital youth culture.

Key Insights: 

• Understand how teen's digital habits vary across demographics groups. 
• Discover which platforms resonate most with teens.
• Explore how teens manage their online presence with future goals in mind.
• Learn why 71% prefer sharing content while only 64% create it. 

Dive into this essential report to uncover how teens use platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram—and how these behaviors shape their lives both online and off.

Learn how teens engage with digital platforms. This study of 2,000+ teens provides critical insights into their learning habits, content preferences, and platform use. Whether you’re developing products or refining engagement strategies, this report helps you create tools that resonate with the digital behaviors of today’s learners.

Key EdTech Insights:

• Discover which platforms teens use for tutorials and educational content.

• Learn why 71% prefer sharing content while only 64% create it.

• Track shifts in interests from middle to high school.

• See how teens find and share knowledge across platforms.

Use this comprehensive data to develop strategies that meet teens where they are and empower them to learn, create, and thrive in the digital world.

Empower your organization with insights into teens’ digital lives. We surveyed 2,000+ teens to uncover how they navigate social platforms, share information, and engage online. The findings provide data-driven guidance to help you refine youth programs, craft effective digital outreach, and address online safety—critical steps in building impactful initiatives for today’s digitally connected teens.

Impact-Focused Findings:

• Learn how online habits differ by demographics.

• Understand which platforms resonate most with teens.

• Assess teens’ awareness of online risks.

• Explore how teens collaborate and share knowledge.

Leverage these findings to create programming that really connects with teens, helping your organization drive meaningful impact in their digital lives.

Understand the digital habits of your future students. This study of 2,000+ teens offers actionable insights into how they interact with digital platforms, make decisions, and manage their online identities—key data for how your institution approaches enrollment, engagement, and communication strategies.

Strategic Insights for Higher Education:

• Learn how teens want to connect with online.

• Discover which platforms resonate most with prospective students.

• Understand the balance between content consumption and creation.

• Explore how teens manage their online presence with future goals in mind.

Prepare your institution to connect with the next generation of students with data-driven insights into their digital behaviors and preferences.

Today’s teens are caught in a whirlwind of emotions as they plan for their futures. Balancing optimism, anxiety, and the stress of too many options, they face challenges that are both unique to their generation and deeply personal. Our study of 2,000+ teens reveals their top concerns—academic pressure, career uncertainty, and financial worries—and why they crave hands-on experiences.

Key Insights:

• Learn what teens say about the stress of academic expectations and future uncertainty.

• Discover how career exploration and real-world experiences build confidence.

• Explore the financial worries that weigh heavily on teens and their decision-making.

This report offers a comprehensive look into the complex emotions teens experience today and offers data-driven insights to help you make more informed decisions for your business. 

Teens are overwhelmed by information but crave tools that make their futures clearer. Despite access to endless knowledge, they face “choice paralysis,” which makes it harder to plan their futures. This study of 2,000+ teens reveals how digital tools can address their biggest academic, career, and financial stressors.

Key Insights for EdTech Professionals:

• Find out how teens perceive the connection between education and real-world readiness.

• Explore ways to help teens choose and prepare for career paths.

• Discover how digital resources can guide teens in identifying their skills and interests.

This report provides actionable insights to design tools that reduce stress, foster engagement, and empower teens to plan confidently for the future.

Teens today need your help to turn hope into action. Navigating the future is both exciting and overwhelming. This comprehensive study of 2,000+ teens uncovers their pressures—from academic stress to career uncertainty—and highlights opportunities for nonprofits to make a meaningful impact.

Key Insights for Nonprofits:

• Discover how academic stress and financial concerns shape how teens think about their  futures.

• Learn what types of hands-on experiences help teens feel more prepared.

• Uncover actionable opportunities for developing impactful youth programs.

These insights can help your organization develop programs, foster youth empowerment, and provide teens with real-world experiences to thrive.

Today’s teens are optimistic about their futures but often paralyzed by choices. They’re eager to succeed but need support in navigating the complexities of academic, career, and financial decisions. This study of 2,000+ teens offers actionable insights to help higher education institutions refine enrollment, communication, and engagement strategies.

Key Insights for Higher Education Professionals:

• Understand how teens view their own readiness for what’s next. 

• Discover how financial stress impacts their decision-making and future planning.

• Explore the role of hands-on experiences in building confidence and reducing anxiety.

• Find strategies for connecting with prospective students in meaningful ways.

Leverage this report to connect with prospective students, understand their needs, and offer solutions that build confidence in their educational choices.

Teens are facing a mental health crisis unlike any generation before. The pressures of academics, social media, and an uncertain future have left many struggling to manage their stress and anxiety. Our survey of 2,000+ teens uncovers how they’re coping and the role of support systems in their lives.

Key Insights:

• Explore the top stressors in teens’ lives and how they impact mental health.

• Learn what teens do to cope with anxiety.

• Discover what they know about healthy strategies and how often they use them.

• Understand the barriers to mental health support, including stigma and access.

This report offers an understanding of today’s teens’ challenges and what needs to be done to support their mental well-being.

Stress and anxiety are shaping how teens approach learning and their futures. With rising mental health challenges, teens struggle to manage academic demands and emotional pressures. This report reveals critical insights for EdTech leaders that may help you design tools that provide support to teens and allow them to thrive.

Key Insights for EdTech Professionals:

• Learn how academic pressures and future uncertainty affect teen mental health.

• Discover how teens use digital platforms to seek support and manage stress.

• Understand how passive versus active engagement online impacts mental well-being.

This report’s data may inform the creation of impactful, student-centered solutions that support teens’ emotional and academic success.

Today’s teens need help navigating a landscape of overwhelming stressors. From rising anxiety rates to the challenges of accessing mental health care, this study of 2,000+ teens reveals where they’re struggling and the areas in which critical support is needed to help them thrive.

Key Findings for Nonprofits:

• Discover the top sources of stress for teens and how these vary across demographics.

• Learn why stigma and cultural barriers prevent many teens from seeking help.

• Uncover opportunities to create programs that promote healthy coping strategies.

• Gain insights to improve access to mental health resources and support systems.

Use these findings to design impactful initiatives that meet teens where they are and provide the support they need most.

Teen anxiety and stress are at an all-time high, shaping how they approach academics, career decisions, and social connections. This report offers data and insights to help higher education institutions better support prospective students’ mental well-being.

Key Insights for Higher Education Professionals:

• Learn how academic pressures and future uncertainty impact teens’ mental health.

• Discover what coping strategies teens use—and where they need more support.

• Explore the role of family, schools, and therapy in shaping teens’ emotional resilience.

• Understand how to create a more supportive environment for students entering your institution.

This report provides the insights you need to connect with prospective students and foster a campus culture that prioritizes mental health.

Today’s teens are stepping into a world where career possibilities are endless—but so are the challenges. Faced with a rapidly changing job market and the challenge of balancing passion with financial security, teens are actively exploring their futures. Based on a survey of over 2,000 teens, this report offers insights into their key questions, go-to research tools, and the challenges they encounter along the way.

Use this report to:

• Understand what excites and worries teens about their career prospects.  

• Explore how teens research opportunities, from Google to hands-on internships.  

• Identify the obstacles they face when navigating overwhelming options.

Teens are navigating a world of career possibilities using the tools they know best. They’re Googling job descriptions, watching YouTube tutorials, and even using TikTok for advice. But with so many options, many feel stuck or overwhelmed. Based on a survey of over 2,000 teens, this report provides insights into how they explore careers, equipping you with a better understanding of their needs and behaviors.

Use this report to: 

- Learn how teens engage with digital platforms for career exploration.  

- Spot untapped opportunities, like connecting teens to hands-on experiences like internships.  

- Understand how time constraints and lack of awareness create barriers to exploration.

Teenagers are charting their futures with curiosity and determination, but many are unsure about their options or how to move forward. This report uncovers teens’ career exploration habits, key concerns, and preferred resources, offering insights to help higher education institutions create programs and messaging that resonate with this audience.  

Use this report to: 

• Gain a clearer picture of how teens discover and explore career options.  

• Tailor your messaging to reflect teens’ unique priorities and aspirations.

• Refine programs that build confidence and prepare students for future success. 

Today’s teens are entering a job market filled with opportunity and uncertainty. Nonprofits have a unique role in helping teens navigate their options. This report, based on a survey of over 2,000 teens, highlights their priorities, challenges, and dreams—providing the insights you need to create programs that truly connect.  

Use this report to:  

• Learn how teens use digital tools to explore careers and identify where real-world opportunities fit in.  

• Understand teens’ top priorities, such as financial stability and meaningful work.  

• Discover opportunities to design impactful programs that balance passion and practicality.  

What: 

How well do adults really understand today’s teens? To find out, we surveyed 1,000 teens and 1,000 adults—and uncovered a significant disconnect. Adults often assume they know what teens value, believe, and need, but our research reveals eight common myths that distort how we perceive Gen Z.  

From financial habits to social media use to future aspirations, today’s teens are more strategic, thoughtful, and independent than many adults realize. By debunking these myths, brands, educators, and any working with teens can build stronger, more authentic connections with the next generation.  

You'll Learn:

• Are teens really facing more pressure than past generations? Many believe life is harder now—but why?

• Is technology really the problem adults think it is? Teens spend hours online, but their top priorities might surprise you.

• Do teens blindly follow trends? Adults assume they do, but the reality is more nuanced.

• How do spending habits evolve with age? Are teens really just obsessed with material things, or is something deeper at play?

• Do teens just waste money? When given extra money, their choices may challenge common assumptions.

• Laziness or something else? What looks like disengagement may actually be a response to something much bigger.

• How do teens define respect? They’re not rejecting authority—they’re redefining how respect is earned.

• What does success look like to Gen Z? College, careers, and the future—how are teens really thinking about what comes next?

How: 

We asked teens (13 to 19) and adults in all 50 states and Washington, DC about teens’ habits and values. The survey took place in  November 2024, and the final survey sample size was nationally-representative on gender, race, ethnicity, and region of the US.

Why:

Gain a competitive edge by truly understanding Gen Z. Whether you’re a brand looking to market to teens, an educator shaping future curriculums, or a nonprofit advocating for youth initiatives, having real data—not just assumptions—gives you the power to make informed, impactful decisions.

This Report Can Help You:

• Avoid assumptions and craft narratives that reflect what truly matters to them.

• Recognize and adapt to teens shifting spending habits.  

• Help teens navigate stress, career uncertainty, and digital life.

What:

Today’s teens are balancing the desire for financial independence with economic uncertainty, all while navigating academic, social, and personal pressures. This nationally representative study of over 2,000 teens (ages 13-18) provides a comprehensive look at how they earn, spend, and save their money. It reveals their motivations for working, their financial priorities, and the anxieties shaping their future outlook.  

For businesses, brands, and institutions, understanding Gen Z’s financial behaviors is key to engaging them effectively—whether through products, services, education, or marketing. This report offers actionable insights to help you connect with the next generation of earners and consumers.  

Key Insights: 

• Learn how age, gender, and location impact teen employment.

• Gain insights into what motivates their spending choices and how they balance needs vs.wants

• Understand how teens balance short-term financial goals with long-term uncertainty.

• Explore gaps in financial literacy and how they impact teens' financial confidence.

How:

This special report on teens’ financial habits is excerpted from one of three robust studies conducted in March 2024. Over 2,000 7th through 12th graders responded to each survey. Final survey sample sizes were each nationally-representative on gender, age, race, ethnicity, and region of the US.

Why: 

Understanding teens’ financial behaviors is crucial for anyone looking to connect with Gen Z. This report can help inform decisions so brands, businesses, organizations, and institutions might:

• Create messaging that is tailored to teens’ financial priorities and spending habits. 

• Anticipate and respond to teens spending habits and purchasing decisions. 

• Develop financial literacy programs and career readiness resources.  

• Advocate for financial education that prepares teens for real-world financial challenges.