Parents and Social Media

Social media networks have become vital channels for Americans’ daily interactions. Users rely on these platforms to keep in touch with family and friends, gather information and share what is important to them. This report explores how parents -- 75 percent of whom use social media -- turn to social media for parenting-related information and social support. Among the findings:

Mothers are heavily engaged on social media, both giving and receiving a high level of support via their networks. 81 percent of parents who use social media try to respond to good news others share in their networks, including 45 percent of social-media-using parents who “strongly agree” that they do so. Some 53 percent of mothers say they “strongly agree,” compared with 33 percent of fathers who say that.

Social media is broadly viewed as a source of useful information and as one parenting tool among a collection of options. Mothers use it as a parenting resource slightly more often than fathers.

Few parents say they have felt uncomfortable when information about their children is shared by other family members or caregivers on social media.

Parents, like non-parents, use a variety of social media platforms.

Parents are particularly active on Facebook and LinkedIn, while non-parents use Instagram more frequently.