• Until 8th Grade, iPads are the most commonly owned personal device (identified in the survey as having the device as your own, not a family or shared device). In 8th grade, iPhones became the most commonly owned personal device. 

• Except for 6th grade, fewer students by grade level report owning a phone than in previous survey years. Currently, more 6th-graders report having an iPhone than did in 2024, but it is less than was reported in 2022. 

• Apple Watch ownership is higher in all grades compared to previous years. There is a steady increase in Apple Watch ownership in 3rd-7th grades, followed by a decline in 8th grade corresponding with the increase in phone ownership. 

• Social Media participation increases from the 6th to the 8th grades; however, participation in social media is proportionally less than two years ago. 

• In 7th and 8th grades, social media participation is reported to be lower across all platforms than in 2024. 

  • TikTok continued to be the most popular among 7th-graders.

  • Snapchat continued to be the most popular among 8th-graders. 

• In 6th grade, TikTok, Snapchat, and Fortnite participation have decreased compared to two years ago, but the Discord participation rate among 6th-graders remained consistent at 8%, and while still very low, Instagram participation increased from 1% of surveyed 6th-graders in 2024 to 4% of surveyed 6th-graders in 2026. 

Please note: Even with the introduction of teen accounts on social media platforms in the past year, as of March 2026, the minimum age for Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, per their terms of service, is 13. Snapchat and Instagram Teen Accounts require users to be at least 13. TikTok's terms of service require all users under 18 to have parent/guardian permission, and they do offer a "Under 13 Experience." Please see privacy policies and terms of service for more details on all social media platforms. 

Most students believe their Chromebook use at school is nicely balanced with time off-screen.

• Most students see their time limits, or lack thereof, as working for them.

• Autonomy increases and limits decrease with Age: 

  • • Nearly 50% of 3rd-5th graders report having time limits that work for them.

    • In 7th and 8th grades, the percentage of students with "working" limits shrinks, while the "I don't have time limits, and that's working for me" category grows substantially. 

    • In 8th grade, 40% of students reported not having time limits. Of the 28 students who report not having time limits, 40% said they probably should have limits. 

• A higher percentage of free time is spent on tech as students get older. 

iMessage is the most popular app overall among all students across the grades surveyed. Once students are in the Upper School, at least 50% of students report participating in group texts. As participation in group texts increases, so does the amount of students who report sending a message they later regret. 

• As students get older, more of them start to think about tech companies tracking their data. 

• More than 75% of upper school students report giving some thought about how tech companies design content to "trick" them into distraction; however, less than 50% of all students surveyed give it a lot or very much thought.