How Teens Use and View AI
Nationally representative survey of 1,458 US teens (13-17) and their parents on awareness, use, and attitudes toward AI, including chatbot use for conversation and emotional support. Reports adoption patterns and parental comfort levels across use cases.
Publisher
Pew Research Center
Published
24 Feb 2026
Added
1 month ago
DOI
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Key Findings
- 16% of teens have used chatbots for casual conversation; 12% for emotional support or advice (21% among Black teens)
- Only 18% of parents are comfortable with their teen getting emotional support from a chatbot — the sole use a majority of parents reject
- Majorities of teens report not using chatbots for companionship or emotional support
Methodology Notes
Survey report (published 24 February 2026). n=1,458 US teens 13-17 plus a parent, fielded 25 Sept-9 Oct 2025, margin of error +/-3.3pp. Part of a multi-page Pew series (parent and demographic companion pages listed as additional sources).
Sources
Pew Research Center report (primary)
Companion: parents perspectives
Archived snapshot (Wayback Machine) — preserved against link rot
Tags
Cite This
APA
Pew Research Center (2026). How Teens Use and View AI. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/how-teens-use-and-view-ai/
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