Common Sense Research

csm research

About the Research Program

The mission of Common Sense Research is to provide parents, educators, health organizations, and policymakers with reliable, independent data on children's use of media and technology and the impact it has on their physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development. For further inquiries, contact us at [email protected].

Featured Research

Quarterly Survey Series
September 16, 2020
In today's 24/7 digital world, our relationship to media and technology changes constantly. This series identifies media-use trends and keeps pace with families' evolving perspectives on tech. Surveys are conducted in partnership with SurveyMonkey.
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Tweens, Teens, Tech, and Mental Health: Coming of Age in an Increasingly Digital, Uncertain, and Unequal World 2020
July 29, 2020
Young people are experiencing unprecedented challenges in 2020, and technology can be a source of both support and anxiety for some. This report synthesizes what is known about adolescents' mental health and its associations with digital technology use.
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Teens and the News: The Influencers, Celebrities, and Platforms They Say Matter Most, 2020
July 21, 2020
Young people are setting their own standards for the companies and people they consider trusted news sources. This report, conducted before the coronavirus pandemic, explores where teens get their news—and how they feel about the headlines.
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The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens, 2019
October 28, 2019
YouTube and other online platforms are changing the way kids find entertainment, use their devices, and do their homework. The 2019 census builds on a 2015 study to show how media use among tweens and teens has shifted over time.
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The New Normal: Parents, Teens, and Devices Around the World
October 1, 2019
This cross-cultural research series focuses on how devices affect daily life for families in the U.S. and internationally. Our latest study of families in Mexico reveals parents' views on the benefits and drawbacks of mobile devices.
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The State of Kids' Privacy: Evaluating the Safety and Security of Kids' Tech
July 31, 2019
What's the state of kids' digital privacy? This research series explores how various products address consumer privacy concerns and protect the personal information of their youngest users. Our latest study focuses on popular edtech products from 2019.
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The New Normal: Parents, Teens, Screens, and Sleep
May 29, 2019
We know mobile devices can be distracting, but are they really getting in the way of a good night's rest? This study reveals how devices can interrupt sleep habits, along with other insights into how mobile devices affect family life.
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The Common Sense Census: Inside the 21st-Century Classroom
April 18, 2019
This addition to the Common Sense Census features unique, data-driven insights into teachers' experiences with educational technology in their classrooms, from the benefits of teaching digital citizenship skills to the gaps in access that persists.
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Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences, 2018
September 10, 2018
Teens use media in unexpected and meaningful ways. This report surveys young people about how social media affects their social and emotional well-being, for better or worse, and explores the major changes and trends in social media use since 2012.
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