The spread of coronavirus has upended life for American teenagers, with 95% of 13-17 year-olds in the U.S. reporting the cancellation of in-person classes at their school. Eight in 10 teens (80%) say they’re following news about the coronavirus closely, and concern is high: 61% are worried they or someone in their family will be exposed to the virus, and 63% are worried about the effect it will have on their family’s ability to make a living or earn money.
Teenagers of color are more likely to say they’re worried that they or someone in their family will be exposed to the virus and about the potential economic effect on their family. Hispanic teenagers are especially worried about the financial effect: nearly nine in 10 Hispanic teens say they’re worried about the impact on their family’s ability to make a living.
More than half (54%) of teens say they are “very much” practicing social distancing, 40% say they are doing so “somewhat,” and just 6% “not at all.” About four in 10 teens (42%) feel “more lonely than usual” right now—nearly the same as those who say they feel “about as lonely as usual” (43%). Just 15% say they feel “less lonely than usual.”
Large majorities of teens say they’ve stopped attending public places such as restaurants, movies, or concerts (81%) and stopped meeting with close friends in person (68%). While 65% of teens report talking to friends or family via texting or social media more often than they usually do, many fewer teens say they’ve taken more direct steps to increase their connections with others during this time, such as reaching out to a friend or family member they haven’t talked to in a while (37%), providing emotional support online to others (21%), or posting information online about the coronavirus’ effects (13%).
Most teens whose in-person classes have been cancelled say schoolwork is still being assigned while they are at home (86%). Public school and private school students are equally likely to say their in-person classes have been cancelled, but while nearly all private school students still have schoolwork being assigned remotely, fewer public school students say the same (96% vs. 83%).
Slightly more than half of teens who no longer attend school in-person say they are worried about not being able to keep with their schoolwork (56%) and their extracurricular activities (55%) while in-person school activities are canceled.
Private school students report more frequent contact with their teachers and more communication related to school in general. Two-thirds (66%) of private school teens say they’re connecting with their teachers once a day or more, including 33% who connect a few times a day and 14% who connect once an hour or more. Among public school teens, just 31% connect with their teachers once a day or more often, including 15% who connect a few times a day and just 2% who connect once an hour or more.
While more than half of teens (58%) say they’ve attended an online or virtual class since the end of in-person classes, the rate is significantly higher among private school students than public school students (82% vs. 53%). Private school students are also more likely than public school students to say they’re using video chat or videoconferencing (88% vs. 39%), email (78% vs. 68%), and learning management systems/course websites (65% vs. 50%) to stay connected to school.
For more detailed results, click through the interactive toplines below.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
How closely are you following news about the coronavirus?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 NET closely 80%79%81%Very closely 28%29%27%Somewhat closely 52%50%55%NET not closely 20%21%18%Not so closely 15%16%13%Not closely at all 5%5%5%No answer 0%0%0%Question wording: How closely are you following news about the coronavirus?Survey dates: –How worried are you that you or someone in your family will be exposed to the coronavirus?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 NET worried 61%58%64%Very worried 26%24%28%Somewhat worried 36%35%37%NET not worried 39%42%36%Not so worried 29%31%27%Not worried at all 9%10%9%No answer 0%0%0%Question wording: How worried are you that you or someone in your family will be exposed to the coronavirus?Survey dates: –How worried are you about the effect the coronavirus may have on your family’s ability to make a living or earn money?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 NET worried 63%62%65%Very worried 31%30%31%Somewhat worried 33%32%34%NET not worried 36%38%35%Not so worried 24%25%24%Not worried at all 12%13%10%No answer 0%0%1%Question wording: How worried are you about the effect the coronavirus may have on your family’s ability to make a living or earn money?Survey dates: –To what degree is your household practicing “social distancing”? Social distancing refers to household members staying home as much as possible to avoid possible spread of the virus.
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 Not at all 6%6%6%Somewhat 40%44%35%Very much 54%50%58%No answer 0%0%0%Question wording: To what degree is your household practicing “social distancing”? Social distancing refers to household members staying home as much as possible to avoid possible spread of the virus.Survey dates: –Which, if any, are you using to stay connected with family/friends who you no longer see in person due to the coronavirus? (Select all that apply.)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 Texts 83%78%88%Phone calls 72%66%78%Social media 66%59%73%Video chat or video conferencing 66%59%74%Messenger apps 48%49%47%Email 37%39%35%None of the above 2%2%3%Other (please specify) 6%8%3%No answer 1%0%1%Question wording: Which, if any, are you using to stay connected with family/friends who you no longer see in person due to the coronavirus? (Select all that apply.)Survey dates: –How often are you connecting with family/friends who are outside your home?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 Once an hour or more 14%13%14%A few times a day 35%34%35%Once a day 11%10%11%A few times a week 20%22%18%Once a week 9%8%10%Less than once a week 12%13%11%No answer 0%0%1%Question wording: How often are you connecting with family/friends who are outside your home?Survey dates: –Have you done any of the following in response to the coronavirus? (Select all that apply.)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 Stopped attending public places such as restaurants, movies, or concerts 81%79%84%Stopped meeting with close friends in person 68%65%72%Talked to friends or family through texting or social media more than you usually do 65%60%71%Reached out to a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in a while 37%30%44%Provided emotional support online to others 21%16%26%Received emotional support online from others 16%11%21%Posted information online about the coronavirus’ effects on your life or your family’s life 13%11%14%None of the above 6%8%4%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: Have you done any of the following in response to the coronavirus? (Select all that apply.)Survey dates: –How connected would you say you feel to your friends right now?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 More connected than usual 16%15%16%About as connected as usual 36%40%32%Less connected than usual 48%44%52%No answer 0%1%0%Question wording: How connected would you say you feel to your friends right now?Survey dates: –How connected would you say you feel to your family right now?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 More connected than usual 40%41%38%About as connected as usual 52%53%51%Less connected than usual 8%6%10%No answer 0%0%1%Question wording: How connected would you say you feel to your family right now?Survey dates: –How lonely would you say you feel right now?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 More lonely than usual 42%36%49%About as lonely as usual 43%49%36%Less lonely than usual 15%16%14%No answer 0%0%0%Question wording: How lonely would you say you feel right now?Survey dates: –Which of the following best characterizes the type of school you attend?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 Public school 76%72%79%Private school 12%14%10%Charter or magnet school 6%5%6%Homeschool 4%5%4%Other (please specify) 2%3%1%No answer 0%1%0%Question wording: Which of the following best characterizes the type of school you attend?Survey dates: –Have in-person classes at your school been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 Yes 95%95%96%No 4%5%4%No answer 1%0%1%Question wording: Have in-person classes at your school been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak?Survey dates: –Is schoolwork still being assigned while you are at home?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 805 306 499 Yes 86%83%88%No 14%16%12%No answer 1%1%0%Question wording: Is schoolwork still being assigned while you are at home?Survey dates: –How worried are you about not being able to keep up with your schoolwork while in-person school activities are canceled?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 805 306 499 NET worried 56%50%61%Very worried 21%16%26%Somewhat worried 35%34%35%NET not worried 44%50%39%Not so worried 24%25%23%Not worried at all 20%24%16%No answer 0%0%0%Question wording: How worried are you about not being able to keep up with your schoolwork while in-person school activities are canceled?Survey dates: –How worried are you about not being able to keep up with your extracurricular activities (e.g. athletics, student groups) while in-person school activities are canceled?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 805 306 499 NET worried 55%51%59%Very worried 30%27%33%Somewhat worried 25%24%26%NET not worried 45%49%41%Not so worried 23%26%20%Not worried at all 21%23%20%No answer 0%0%0%Question wording: How worried are you about not being able to keep up with your extracurricular activities (e.g. athletics, student groups) while in-person school activities are canceled?Survey dates: –How often are you connecting with your teachers while in-person school activities are cancelled?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 805 306 499 Once an hour or more 4%4%4%A few times a day 17%19%15%Once a day 15%14%15%A few times a week 28%26%31%Once a week 11%10%12%Less than once a week 24%27%22%No answer 1%0%1%Question wording: How often are you connecting with your teachers while in-person school activities are cancelled?Survey dates: –How often do you keep a regular schedule now that you are at home?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 805 306 499 Every day 15%16%15%Most days 29%29%30%About half the time 21%20%23%Rarely 21%21%22%Never 13%15%11%No answer 0%0%0%Question wording: How often do you keep a regular schedule now that you are at home?Survey dates: –Do you have a dedicated space where you can do your schoolwork at home?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 805 306 499 Yes 71%69%74%No 28%31%25%No answer 1%0%1%Question wording: Do you have a dedicated space where you can do your schoolwork at home?Survey dates: –Have you attended an online class or virtual class while in-person school activities have been canceled?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 805 306 499 Yes 58%53%64%No 41%47%35%No answer 0%0%0%Question wording: Have you attended an online class or virtual class while in-person school activities have been canceled?Survey dates: –Are you using any of the following to stay connected to school while in-person activities are canceled? (Select all that apply.)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 805 306 499 Email 68%66%69%Learning management system/course website 51%46%56%Video chat or video conferencing 47%43%50%Texts 33%30%36%Social media 25%22%29%Messenger apps 22%22%22%Phone calls 18%15%21%None of the above 6%8%5%Other (please specify) 6%6%6%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: Are you using any of the following to stay connected to school while in-person activities are canceled? (Select all that apply.)Survey dates: –My knowledge of the coronavirus is primarily informed by:
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 849 326 523 People I know in the real world, such as friends, family, or teachers 37%38%36%Personalities/influencers, celebrities I follow on social media or YouTube 11%13%9%News organizations 47%44%50%None of the above 4%5%3%No answer 0%0%1%Question wording: My knowledge of the coronavirus is primarily informed by:Survey dates: –
Question text:
How closely are you following news about the coronavirus?
How worried are you that you or someone in your family will be exposed to the coronavirus?
How worried are you about the effect the coronavirus may have on your family’s ability to make a living or earn money?
To what degree is your household practicing “social distancing”? Social distancing refers to household members staying home as much as possible to avoid possible spread of the virus.
Which, if any, are you using to stay connected with family/friends who you no longer see in person due to the coronavirus? (Select all that apply.)
How often are you connecting with family/friends who are outside your home?
Have you done any of the following in response to the coronavirus? (Select all that apply.)
How connected would you say you feel to your friends right now?
How connected would you say you feel to your family right now?
How lonely would you say you feel right now?
Which of the following best characterizes the type of school you attend?
Have in-person classes at your school been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak?
Is schoolwork still being assigned while you are at home?
How worried are you about not being able to keep up with your schoolwork while in-person school activities are canceled?
How worried are you about not being able to keep up with your extracurricular activities (e.g. athletics, student groups) while in-person school activities are canceled?
How often are you connecting with your teachers while in-person school activities are cancelled?
Do you have a dedicated space where you can do your schoolwork at home?
Have you attended an online class or virtual class while in-person school activities have been canceled?
Are you using any of the following to stay connected to school while in-person activities are canceled? (Select all that apply.)
My knowledge of the coronavirus is primarily informed by:
*teenagers
