A majority of American teens age 13 to 17 get their news daily from social media, which differs sharply from older Americans. Teens are also more likely to rely on influencers and independent content creators rather than national new outlets, while a small number also turn to search engines and AI chatbots to keep up with current events. At the same time, teens are realistic about the potential shortcomings of these information sources. While they often turn to non-traditional news sources, only about 12 percent of teens have a “great deal of confidence” in what they hear from sources like influencers, and only 11 percent feel that way about information from AI sources. Plus, a third of teens say they feel confident they can spot AI content, a higher proportion than adults.

A major new scientific review has researchers concluding that vaping causes lung and oral cancers. The study examined a wide range of evidence, including clinical monitoring of people who vape, animal studies, and laboratory investigations of the chemicals produced by e-cigarettes. Vaping is down among middle school and high school students, according to the new National Youth Tobacco Survey. But about 2 million American teens still use tobacco products, and more than 40 percent of teens who vape report frequent use. In May, the Food and Drug Administration authorized certain flavored e-cigarettes for the first time, alarming some doctors and health experts since flavored tobacco products are commonly seen as appealing to teens.

According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three in five teens participated in team sports in the past year, and about 14 percent of high school students suffered a concussion from playing sports or being physically active. Since a concussion is a brain injury, recovering from one requires resting both your mind and body. A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that teens can recover faster by being careful with their screen time. Researchers say that limiting screen time (on a TV, computer, or smartphone) to about 140 minutes per day during the first three days after a concussion resulted in a 35 percent faster recovery.

GLP-1 weight management drugs, such as Wegovy and Saxenda, have transformed how we treat obesity in the past few years. But doctors and therapists are increasingly worried about people with anorexia and other eating disorders misusing these powerful drugs. They are especially concerned about teens and others buying them from online pharmacies that don’t require an actual doctor consultation, sometimes by lying about their weight or age (typically they only sell to those over 18). In eating disorder recovery, therapists help patients listen to their natural hunger cues, but GLP-1s interrupt this process. This could lead to some people relapsing into disordered eating. According to Dr. Kimberly Dennis, an expert in the field, “These drugs are rocket fuel for people with eating disorders.”

Getting a summer job is a milestone in many teens’ lives, but this year fewer teens than ever may be working one. Economists at the firm Challenger, Gray, and Christmas predict that 790,000 teens will gain jobs between May and July 2026, the lowest number since the government starting tracking teen employment 78 years ago. In the 1970s and ‘80s, about half of teens worked a summer job, but now only about a third do. Some teens have competing priorities, from college prep to internships and sports. At the same time, inflation and automation (including AI) are making some businesses less likely to hire teens. Experts offer a few tips for teen job seekers: start as soon as possible since June is the busiest month for hiring, reach out to family and friends to find opportunities, keep a clean online presence, and follow up with employers after you apply. Opportunities differ by city, but according to the Wall Street Journal, lifeguard gigs are one of the few teen-friendly job openings that remain in consistently high demand.

Nearly two-thirds of teen boys and young men engage with masculinity influencers online. Some channels or podcasts promote healthy views of masculinity, but many “manosphere” figures push impressionable teens toward unrealistic body standards and other extreme ideas. Content on “looksmaxxing,” or trying to maximize one’s attractiveness, can push boys into risky behaviors. Some develop body image issues, eating disorders, or muscle dysphoria, an obsession with bulking up. These can lead to extreme workout routines or taking unregulated supplements, hormones, or anabolic steroids, which raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, organ damage, and other serious conditions. Other teens opt for cosmetic surgery to get a more chiseled jawline or abs. Doctors warn teens to be careful of the line between self-care and self-harm. One expert on the “manosphere,” Dr. Jason Nagata, warns boys to think critically about what they find online, “where popularity can be mistaken for expertise.” Consider if influencers are earning money from products they endorse and if there is real evidence to support their claims.

Two new studies show how poor habits can impact your mental well-being. One analysis of teens around the world showed that drinking sugary beverages, like sodas and energy drinks, was associated with a 34 percent increase in symptoms of anxiety. Another study looked at excessive screen time among preteens and young teens. Spending too much time using social media or playing video games was linked to symptoms of depression, attention issues, and behavior problems. Your teen years are the perfect time to practice healthy habits that will serve you for life. You can take small steps every day to benefit your physical and mental health, from eating well and limiting screen time to exercising and practicing mindfulness.

Your brain is rapidly developing during your childhood and teen years. To understand how, researchers tracked more than 11,000 children and teens for about seven years in the largest long-term study of the brain development of American youth. They found a key point: Marijuana slows brain development in teens, negatively impacting memory, attention, language, and processing speed. According to the lead researcher, “These differences may seem small at first, but they can add up in ways that affect learning, memory, and everyday functioning.”

 

A new study of gamers in their late teens and early 20s has revealed that their health can suffer depending on how much time they spend gaming. Study participants who spent more than 10 hours per week gaming were more likely to be obese, have poor diets, and get poor quality sleep. Low to moderate levels of gaming (less than 10 hours a week) generally did have a negative impact on teens’ health. Since the habits you establish in your teen and early adult years can stick with you into adulthood, experts suggest focusing on healthy behaviors: taking breaks while gaming, avoiding gaming late at night, eating healthy snacks and balanced meals, and making sure to leave time for physical activity and other hobbies. The research likely applies to a wide range of teens—according to Pew Research, 85 percent of teens play video games, and 41 percent play every day.

Seventh-grade student Aisha Chavda is getting national attention for starting an anti-bullying initiative. After seeing how others her age faced harassment online, she created an acronym called “BRIGHT” to help teens being cyberbullied:

• • Block: Block the bully online
• • Report: Report the bully to the app or site
• • Ignore: Don’t respond; distract yourself with other activities
• • Get an adult: Go to a trusted adult for advice
• • Hotline: If you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide, connect with a hotline like stopbullying.gov
• • Tech break: Get outside or away from devices for a while

For her efforts, Chavda won the Illinois State Civics Bee, a competition that encourages students to identify problems in their communities and find solutions.