Nearly 2 out of 3 teens and tweens use AI chatbots, new research shows

AI chatbots have become common among American children, often before they reach the platforms’ stated minimum age of 13. A Common Sense Media survey found that nearly half of 9-to-12-year-olds had used a chatbot or AI companion, rising to nearly three-quarters by age 13. A JED Foundation survey of 5,500 students aged 9 to 17 found that 90% had used one. Nearly two-thirds used chatbots for both schoolwork and companionship or emotional support, including when stressed, lonely, anxious, or overwhelmed. Students described using them to practice questions, understand lessons, organize tasks, review essays, and seek reassurance about school.

The JED survey also found that young people who use AI while in emotional distress report poorer mental health and well-being, as well as more histories of suicidal thoughts and attempts. These associations do not establish that chatbot use causes distress: students who are already struggling may be more likely to turn to AI. Other preliminary research points to a possible two-way relationship. Middle school students who used chatbots for companionship became lonelier over time, and studies of young adults likewise connect emotional reliance on AI with worsening mental health. Researchers suggest that chatbots may soothe distress temporarily while discouraging young people from building the skills to manage ordinary stress and emotions.