Are Teens Using AI Chatbots? New Data Reveals the Truth

The increasing popularity of AI chatbots has sparked concerns among parents, as more and more adolescents are turning to these digital tools for various purposes. A recent survey highlights that approximately two-thirds of teens use AI chatbots, with some using them as substitutes for human friendship or dating. Others utilize these bots to practice social skills, which can be both beneficial and concerning.

While AI technology offers practical applications and can be a fun novelty, the growing dependence on these programs is a significant issue, especially when they replace meaningful human interaction. This trend raises important questions about the impact of AI on adolescent development and mental health.

Pew Research recently released its 2025 survey data on teens’ use of social media and technology, revealing patterns that are largely similar to those from two years ago. Most teens (76%) report being on YouTube at least once a day, with nearly half visiting the platform several times a day. Interestingly, this number has slightly decreased compared to 2023. Twitter use has seen a drastic decline, dropping from 33% in 2023 to 16% now. Other social platforms have remained relatively stable over the past few years.

One of the most notable changes in this year’s survey is the inclusion of AI chatbots. According to the findings, roughly two-thirds of teens (64%) have used an AI chatbot at some point. About three-in-ten teens say they use AI chatbots every day, with 16% using them several times a day or almost constantly.

What Are Teens Using Chatbots For?

Although this study did not ask teens about specific uses, another survey conducted earlier this year by Common Sense Media provided some insights. The survey found that about a third of teens reported using AI companions for social interaction and relationships, including role-playing, romantic interactions, emotional support, friendship, or conversation practice. Similarly, about the same percentage said they turned to chatbots instead of real people to discuss serious topics.

Approximately a quarter of teens shared personal information with chatbots, while 11% used them to practice apologizing, and 8% used the programs to practice dating interactions. Just under half of the teens surveyed viewed AI chatbots as tools or programs rather than companions.

What Are The Risks Of Chatbot Use?

Despite their convenience and availability, AI chatbots pose certain risks. Their responses are generated using language models without necessarily verifying factual accuracy. This means that the answers may not always be reliable or safe for teens to accept as truth.

AI chatbots are known for providing humorous or nonsensical responses, such as Google’s AI suggesting that glue would be a good way to keep toppings on pizza. In more serious cases, attorneys have faced consequences for allowing AI to generate legal documents, resulting in citations to non-existent cases and decisions—often referred to as AI “hallucinating.”

This becomes particularly dangerous when the user is young and impressionable, especially if they are asking questions about relationships, mental health, or physical health. There is currently a lawsuit against one such program, Character.AI, as the parents of at least two teens have linked their children’s suicides to the use of chatbots. In response, the site announced in October that it would begin limiting teen access and altering how users under 18 could use its programs.

It’s not just suicides. Chatbots have also been linked to reinforcing delusions in individuals with mental illness and providing inaccurate or even dangerous information about health and relationships.

What Should Parents Do?

It's challenging to provide a one-size-fits-all solution for how parents should handle their children's access to new technology. We know that any technology that is fun, experimental, and glitchy today could become essential for future jobs. This is no different for AI, which is already being integrated into workplaces.

Hard bans on specific technologies often drive kids to find ways to access them secretly, so each household must make individual decisions about whether forbidding teens from using AI chatbots is feasible.

That said, there are steps parents can take to protect their kids. These steps primarily involve open conversations and reasonable supervision. Experts have long advised keeping family computers in shared spaces. However, with most adolescents having cell phones and laptops, this is less practical. Parents can still set rules about internet access, such as implementing parental controls on devices or requiring younger teens to turn in their devices before bedtime.

The most crucial ongoing practice is maintaining open communication. Be a safe person for your kids to talk to, and honestly discuss the risks of AI. Make sure they understand that when they share their data, they may feel like they're talking to an imaginary person, but a company might be collecting that information.

Explain to your kids how AI can "hallucinate" and give examples so they know that any information provided should be double-checked with reliable sources. Keep the conversation open and supportive.