Two-Thirds of US Teens Use AI Chatbots

Almost three-quarters of kids by age thirteen have already chatted with an AI. Two recent surveys show nearly two-thirds of American tweens and teens regularly use chatbots. Common Sense Media found half of 9-to-12-year-olds have tried an AI companion. By thirteen, roughly seventy-five percent have used one, the researchers report. The JED Foundation surveyed 5,500 students aged nine to seventeen. Ninety percent used a bot for homework and stress relief. Fifteen-year-old Arjun Sharda uses ChatGPT and Gemini for practice questions and to calm test anxiety. Seventeen-year-old McKenzie Craig relies on bots to prioritize tasks and to proofread essays. Researchers found that teens who seek AI during emotional distress report higher rates of poor mental health. They also note a greater history of suicidal thoughts. The data don't prove causation, but psychologists warn reliance may worsen loneliness over time. Anne Maheux says a few years ago no kids used AI. Now the same number use it for school and emotional support.