AI Chatbots Reach Nearly Two‑Thirds of U.S. Teens and Tweens, Surveys Reveal
New surveys show that most American youth are already using AI chatbots for schoolwork and emotional support.
Widespread Adoption Among Young Users
Data from Common Sense Media indicate that AI chatbot use begins well before the typical minimum age of 13 required by most platforms. Nearly half of children ages 9 to 12 have used an AI chatbot or companion, and by the time they reach 13, roughly three‑quarters have done so.
Survey of Teens Shows Near‑Universal Exposure
The JED Foundation surveyed 5,500 students aged 9 to 17 across the United States. Their results show that 90 % of respondents have used an AI chatbot. The same study reports that a large portion of these youths rely on chatbots both for academic tasks and for companionship when feeling stressed, lonely, anxious, or overwhelmed.
How Teens Are Using the Technology
Schoolwork assistance: 15‑year‑old Arjun Sharda of Round Rock, Texas, says he uses chatbots to practice sample test questions and to clarify concepts outside the classroom. He mentions using both OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, noting a recent preference for the latter.
Task management: 17‑year‑old McKenzie Craig from Raynham, Massachusetts, explains that she turns to chatbots when overwhelmed with tasks, using them to prioritize assignments.
Writing feedback: Craig also runs her essays through tools such as Grammarly or ChatGPT to receive feedback and make edits.
Emotional support: Sharda says he and his friends ask chatbots for reassurance before tests, recalling a moment when he asked ChatGPT whether he would be okay after a challenging chemistry exam.
Potential Mental‑Health Links
Kayla Anderson, vice president of research and evaluation at the JED Foundation, says the survey allowed researchers to examine how AI use correlates with indicators of well‑being, histories of suicidal thoughts or attempts, and overall mental‑health status.
Expert Perspective
Developmental psychologist Anne Maheux, who is not involved in either study, describes the findings as “remarkable,” noting the rapid shift from virtually no use a few years ago to widespread adoption for both academic and emotional purposes.
These surveys highlight how AI chatbots have become a routine part of daily life for many American youths, serving both practical and emotional roles while also raising questions about their impact on mental health.
