During the pandemic, teens just want to know how to safely socialize “” they don’t need more rules on what they can’t do

During the pandemic, teens just want to know how to safely socialize “” they don’t need more rules on what they can’t do

Tammy Chang and Matthew Dunn, researchers at the University of Michigan, surveyed more than 1,000 American teens and young adults to see how they're reacting to the pandemic.

The results suggest that while young people are taking the pandemic seriously, many of them have misconceptions about social distancing and the seriousness of the virus itself. 

Chang and Dunn believe helping young people find ways to safely interact will be more beneficial in the long run, as rising restrictions on in-person interactions could drive teens to fatigue and riskier behavior.

They also recommend adapting public health messaging for platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to reach younger audiences.  

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America's teens and young adults have a crucial role in containing the spread of COVID-19, but a series of