FACT CHECK: Teen Vogue Falsely Claims Guns the No. 1 Killer of Children

In a recent article published on May 14, 2025, Teen Vogue made a bold claim that gun violence has surpassed auto accidents as the number one killer of American children. This statement has caused quite a stir and has been met with both support and skepticism. However, upon further investigation, it has been found that this claim is false and misleading.

The article in question, titled “Gun Violence: The Silent Killer of American Children,” was written by a Teen Vogue staff writer and was shared widely on social media. The article stated that “gun violence has become the leading cause of death for American children, surpassing even car accidents.” This statement was backed up by statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

However, upon closer examination, it was found that the statistics used in the article were misleading. The CDC data included deaths of children up to the age of 19, not just those under the age of 18 as the article claimed. This means that the data included deaths of young adults, who are more likely to be involved in gun violence incidents. Additionally, the data did not differentiate between intentional and unintentional deaths, making it difficult to accurately compare gun violence to other causes of death.

Furthermore, the article failed to mention that the number of deaths from auto accidents has actually been decreasing in recent years, while the number of deaths from gun violence has remained relatively stable. This means that while gun violence may have surpassed auto accidents in terms of numbers, it is not necessarily the leading cause of death for American children.

The article also failed to mention other leading causes of death for American children, such as cancer, heart disease, and suicide. In fact, according to the CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 10-24. This is a concerning issue that needs to be addressed, but it was not mentioned in the Teen Vogue article.

It is important to note that any loss of life, especially that of a child, is a tragedy. However, it is irresponsible and misleading to make false claims in order to push a certain agenda. The article in question seems to have a clear bias against guns and is using misleading statistics to further their agenda.

This is not the first time that Teen Vogue has been criticized for spreading false information. In 2017, the magazine published an article titled “Anal Sex: What You Need to Know” which was met with backlash for promoting unsafe sexual practices to young readers. This recent article on gun violence is another example of the magazine’s lack of fact-checking and responsible journalism.

In conclusion, the claim made by Teen Vogue that gun violence has surpassed auto accidents as the number one killer of American children is false and misleading. The article failed to provide accurate and complete information, and it is important for readers to fact-check and question the information presented to them. As responsible citizens, it is our duty to seek the truth and not be swayed by sensationalized headlines and biased articles. Let us work towards finding real solutions to the issue of gun violence, rather than spreading false information and creating unnecessary fear.