Teens, Social Media and AI Chatbots 2025 | Pew Research Center
| Source: Mastodon | Original article
A Pew Research Center survey released today shows that AI chatbots have moved from novelty to routine for U.S. teenagers. Two‑thirds of the 1,458 respondents aged 13‑17 say they use tools such as ChatGPT or Character.ai, and roughly one‑third log in every day. More than half admit to relying on chatbots for school assignments, from drafting essays to solving math problems, while only 40 percent of parents report discussing AI use with their children.
The findings matter because they signal a rapid shift in how young people access information and assistance. Educators are already grappling with plagiarism detection and the need to teach prompt‑engineering skills, while the mental‑health community worries that constant AI interaction may blunt critical thinking—a concern echoed in last week’s report on “cognitive surrender” among AI users. The survey also reveals a stark awareness gap: parents are largely out of the loop, a pattern that mirrors earlier data on teen social‑media habits and raises questions about household digital literacy.
What to watch next includes school districts drafting AI‑use policies, a trend already visible in several Nordic pilot programs that blend chatbot tutoring with safeguards against over‑reliance. Legislators may also consider disclosure rules for AI‑generated content in academic work, echoing broader debates on algorithmic transparency. Finally, Pew plans a follow‑up study in 2026 to track changes as newer models like GPT‑5 enter the market, offering a barometer for how quickly the education system can adapt to an AI‑augmented learning landscape.
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