Majority of teens and tweens now use chat bots, new research finds

A recent survey by Common Sense Media reveals that children as young as 9 are interacting with AI chatbots, often bypassing the 13+ age restrictions typical of most language models. The organization polled over 1,200 American youngsters between the ages of 9 and 17, inquiring about their AI usage, alongside their consumption of television, gaming, and social media content. The study also delved into the young participants' perspectives on their media habits.

Key findings include a significant increase in smartphone adoption among younger teens, with more than half of 11-year-olds already owning smartphones, and near-universal smartphone access by age 17. Moreover, the average screen time is staggering: 8 hours per day for teenagers and 5 hours for tweens. The concerns surrounding AI's impact on teenagers' mental health are mounting, given the unanticipated consequences of social media on adolescent well-being.

Therefore, there is an urgent demand for further research into the effects of AI interaction on teenagers, particularly in relation to school preparedness and mental health.

A second study commissioned by the JEF Foundation, a mental health advocacy group, interviewed more than 5,000 middle and high school students from 21 different schools between October 2025 and April 2026, yielding four significant findings presented verbatim from their report. Firstly, students utilize AI for a variety of cognitive and emotional support purposes, turning to AI when they are emotionally distressed.

Secondly, certain AI uses are correlated with poorer mental health and well-being outcomes, as well as a higher lifetime prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts. Thirdly, students who use AI while feeling emotionally distressed exhibit worse mental health and well-being outcomes, and a greater history of suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Lastly, patterns of AI use exhibit demographic differences, with substantial implications for mental health disparities.

Kayla Anderson, a JED Foundation psychologist, discussed the findings with NPR, stating that "When young people are using AI, when they're in emotional distress, they're more likely to report poor mental health and well-being outcomes," but she emphasized that the study did not establish causality. In other words, it remains unclear whether AI is exacerbating mental health issues among teenagers or if teenagers with pre-existing mental health problems are gravitating towards AI chatbots for assistance.

Nonetheless, the results highlight the need for further studies to determine potential causality, which could prompt lawmakers to impose stricter age restrictions on AI companies and accept greater liability for adverse mental health outcomes among teenagers.