How Teens Use and View AI: A New 2026 PEW Research Study Shines More Light On This Topic
- The White Hatter
- 4 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Caveat- The Pew Research Center recently released a report titled “How Teens Use and View AI” (1). In this article, we reflect on its findings and compare them to what we are seeing with students across Canada in the many schools and communities where we present each year.
Good research helps move the conversation beyond headlines and fear. What makes this report especially valuable is that it asks teens directly about their experiences with AI, how they are using it, and how they think it will shape their future.
From our experience, much of what Pew found aligns with what Canadian youth and teens are telling us. AI is no longer new or experimental to them. It is becoming part of how they study, brainstorm, research, and create. For many teens, it feels like a productivity tool rather than a shortcut to cheat, though misuse does occur. The reality is more layered than many adults assume.
We are also seeing the same balance Pew identified. Teens are generally optimistic about how AI may benefit them personally, while remaining cautious about its broader societal impact. Many express thoughtful concerns about over reliance, critical thinking, misinformation, and future job prospects. That level of awareness is important.
For parents, the takeaway is clear, AI literacy is now part of digital literacy. The issue is not whether youth and teens will use AI, because they already are. The focus should be on helping them develop the skills, judgment, and ethical awareness to use these tools responsibly and confidently.
Artificial intelligence is not just part of adult tech culture anymore. Today’s youth and teens are interacting with AI regularly and in ways that matter for learning, friendships, homework, and wellbeing. A new survey by the Pew Research Center shows how common this use has become, how youth and teens think about it, and how their experience differs from what many parents expect.
Most American teens ages 13–17 have used an AI chatbot at least once. A survey of 1,458 teens and their parents conducted in late 2025 found that a majority have used AI tools like ChatGPT and others to search for information (57%) or help with schoolwork (54%). Nearly half have used these tools for fun or entertainment, and many use them for tasks like summarizing content or creating media.
While some youth and teens engage with chatbots casually, a smaller share uses them for more personal interaction. Around 12 percent say they’ve used AI for emotional support or advice, and about 16 percent have had casual conversations with chatbots.
Schoolwork and Academic Integrity
Helping with homework is one of the most common reasons youth and teens turn to AI. Many report using AI to do part of their assignments, especially for research or solving problems. In this same context, a substantial share of youth and teens believe their peers use AI to cheat, with about 59 percent saying that cheating with AI happens at least somewhat often in their schools.
Most youth and teens view AI as a helpful tool for learning, but this widespread use raises questions about academic integrity. Youth and teens tend to draw a line between acceptable uses like looking up information and unacceptable ones like having a tool write their papers or solve all their homework. Conversations with educators about fair use and school policies are becoming increasingly important.
Youth and Teens’ Views on AI’s Future Impact
Youth and teens don’t see AI in a single way. When asked to reflect on how AI might affect their lives and society over the next 20 years, more youth and teens say the impact will be positive than negative. About 36 percent expect AI to help them personally, while fewer (15%) worry it will hurt them individually. Youth and teens are somewhat more cautious when thinking about society overall, but optimism still outweighs fear for many.
Their own comments give insight into why. Youth and teens who see AI positively talk about efficiency, learning advantages, and new opportunities. Those who are worried often cite concerns about over reliance on technology, loss of creativity or critical thinking, and job displacement in the future.
Parents and AI
The Pew report also looked at parent and caregiver perspectives. Many caregivers and parents are aware that youth and teens use chatbots, but there is often a gap between how teens report their use and what their parents think. Parents and caregivers worry about academic honesty, the influence of technology on learning and development, and how AI might shape a youth or teens’ social connections and privacy.
What This Means for Families
Here are a few practical takeaways based on the research:
Talk about how AI fits into learning. Ask your youth or teen how they use AI for schoolwork and help them understand when it supports learning versus when it crosses into cheating.
Focus on digital literacy. Rather than banning AI tools, help your child build skills in evaluating and using them responsibly. Understanding what AI can and cannot do is part of critical thinking for the 21st century.
Discuss emotions and wellbeing. A small but real number of youth and teens use AI for emotional support. It’s important to check in about how they feel and who they turn to when they need help.
Stay informed about school policies. Schools are still adapting to AI. Knowing your district’s approach can help you reinforce expectations and guide your teen.
Balance optimism with caution. Youth and teens tend to be more positive than adults about AI’s future. Encouraging thoughtful reflection on the risks and rewards of this technology can help guard against over reliance.
AI is here to stay, and youth and teens are making sense of it in ways that fit their world. Parents, caregivers, and educators can support them by talking openly about both the opportunities and the challenges these tools bring.
Pew offers the data drawn directly from the voices and experiences of youth and teens. The responsibility for parents, caregivers, and educators is to look at that information in context, weigh it against what they are seeing in their own homes and classrooms, and turn it into practical guidance for family life. When credible research lines up with real conversations happening on the ground, it gives us a more confident and informed way forward when it comes to youth, teens, and their use of AI
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
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