I often think it must be tough being a teenager right now – between the pressures of school life and not being able to escape it all thanks to the 24/7 nature of social media, it sounds pretty exhausting.
Now, a new BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Bitesize survey has revealed a little bit of what it’s really like to be a teenager in 2025.
An online survey of 2,000 kids ages 13 to 18 explored the issues shaping their lives—from mental health and safety to the rise of AI.
What is the biggest worry for teenagers?
Getting kids to open up about what’s bothering them can be like drawing blood from a stone for many parents. But a new survey has offered some insight into what worries teens the most.
More than two-thirds (69%) of all participants reported feeling anxious at least some of the time, with the biggest worry being pressure around exams and grades.
It’s not the first time exams have been cited as a major stressor. Earlier this year, mental health charity Young People said exam stress was one of many factors contributing to a record number of young people seeking mental health support.
Its survey of 1,000 15-18 year-olds taking GCSEs or A-levels found that 63% said they found it difficult to cope with and cope with these exams. Of these, 13% had suicidal thoughts and 13% had suicidal thoughts. More than half (56%) had trouble sleeping.
Between fights, 61% experienced anxiety and 40% experienced worsening mental health, while 30% skipped meals and one in four (26%) had panic attacks.
The study also found that exams are more than twice as likely to have a significant negative impact on mental health than social media.
What else did the new teen survey find?
The latest findings, released as part of the Teen Summit coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Bitesize, also found that 65% of teenagers feel overwhelmed at least some of the time, and almost three-quarters (74%) of girls feel anxious at least some of the time.
Another eye-opening discovery was just how much time teenagers spend on their phones: more than a third (38%) spend five hours or more a day, while one in 20 spend eight hours or more.
When they are online, more than half reported seeing sexist and racist content. Two in five (44%) said they have seen extremely violent content.
In real life, 44% are worried about knife crime in their local area and almost one-third (30%) of teenage girls have experienced sexual harassment at school.
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly popular among the younger generation, with almost half (47%) using it to help with homework or coursework.
This is an increase compared to the previous year – this figure was 36% in 2024 and 29% in 2023.
Despite the challenges teenagers face today, nearly eight in 10 (79%) feel positive about their future.
Heidi Dawson, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “Teenagers are growing up in a world that is changing at a rapid pace. These findings provide insight into how much they navigate every day – from online conspiracy theories to concerns about AI and safety in their communities.”
Listen to the Teen Summit on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds on September 16 from 10am.
