A recent report by Cox Mobile studied online habits and concerns for teenagers in the U.S. The report found that teens have faced a range of online security issues over the past year. Those threats include exposure to inappropriate content, privacy violations, cybersecurity threats, online predators, and cyberbullying.

While more than one-quarter of teens report feeling stressed, anxious, or isolated due to constant connectivity, many still recognize the value their digital devices bring to daily life. Teens cited several positive outcomes of being connected, including:

• Staying in touch with friends and family
• Making life more convenient
• Completing schoolwork and learning from home
• Enjoying entertainment like shows, gaming, and music
• Discovering new information or skills
• Sharing updates and building a social network

When presented with an online safety issue, most teen respondents will ask for help from a parent or other trusted adult. What's more, 71% reported they would be open to learning more about online safety best practices in a workshop, session, or classroom-type environment. Encouragingly, most parent respondents said they already have regular, even daily, conversations about online safety with their teens. Their guidance often includes tips like creating strong, unique passwords, enabling multifactor authentication, and removing unsafe apps or channels.

The survey also revealed that 91% of teens use generative AI. They often use it for personal questions, so knowing how to spot false or misleading information is key to a safer experience.

Download the survey results.