Edison Research at SSRS recently released the 2026 Infinite Dial, in partnership with SiriusXM Media. The Infinite Dial is America’s longest-running survey of digital media consumer behavior, tracked annually since 1998. The Infinite Dial has tracked social media usage since 2008, and usage is now reported by 85% of the U.S. 12+ population.
Social media is both widely used and widely criticized within our society, especially when it comes to the lasting effects it can have on young users. Data from the 2026 Infinite Dial does show that the majority of American adults do favor a ban for those under age 16. More than half of Americans aged 18 and older (57%) believe that social media should be banned for young people. Interestingly, we also see some variation by political party. Those who identify with the Republican Party are more likely to support a ban (64%) than those who identify with the Democratic Party.
In addition to social media usage and perceptions, the broader Infinite Dial report provides important benchmarks for behaviors around streaming audio, podcasting, radio, smart audio, and never-before-seen data on AI usage.
