The State of Kids and Families in America 2025

The 2024 election revealed a country deeply divided along ideological lines—but American families across the political spectrum are now united in their concerns about the future of children in the United States. To explore these sentiments, Common Sense Media conducted a comprehensive survey of parents, as well as kids and teenagers, alongside Lake Research Partners and Echelon Insights. We asked about their concerns and attitudes around the prospective future for the country's youth, and the results reveal a striking consensus on the challenges facing the next generation, as well as the solutions needed to address them. Economic anxiety is a core concern for many participants. Parents express significant worry about their children's future economic opportunities, particularly in regard to housing affordability, as well education costs and outcomes.

The youth mental health crisis also looms large in connection with concerns for the future, and many also cite social media as a key contributing factor to this national dilemma. Both parents and children firmly support implementing stronger safety measures for young social media users, including age verification systems and warning labels about mental health risks.

The call for more oversight of how youth interact with technology underscores how a significant majority of people in our surveys don't trust elected officials to adequately represent young people's needs or create beneficial policies for families. This research shows that we stand at a critical juncture where action isn't just important—it's imperative, with parents and youth alike acknowledging the need for increased government action and support.