Parents are often caught off guard by what their teens do in their daily lives, but when it comes to AI, the “perception gap” may be bigger than they thought, according to a Pew Research Center study released Tuesday.
The study found a significant gap between parents’ perceptions and teens’ actual usage of AI chatbots. Approximately 64% of U.S. teens reported using an AI chatbot, and 51% of parents said their teen used an AI chatbot.
“Technology isn’t just a teen or parent issue; it’s a family issue,” said Colleen McClain, a senior researcher at Pew. He said researchers surveyed both teens and parents and heard a variety of perspectives on managing the use of AI.
Just over half (54%) of the teens surveyed said they had used an AI chatbot to help them with their schoolwork, and about one in 10 said they had received emotional support from an AI chatbot.
Teens, who are often at the forefront of users of new technologies, told researchers they saw AI as a tool in their daily lives, and had more positive than negative opinions about how AI would affect them.
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McClain said parents “have a lot to juggle” and many are concerned about their children’s use of AI chatbots, especially after using them a few times. well-known case in which teenager died by suicide After a long period of interaction with new technologies.
“It’s complex and nuanced and it’s not one-size-fits-all,” McClain said.
The study, the most detailed study to date on teens and AI, said it found that many parents were not talking to their teens about the use of AI. Only 4 out of 10 parents said they did this. Many people don’t make managing screen time a top priority amid other life demands, and some parents say they feel stigmatized for doing so.
Dr. Amber W. Childs, associate professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, told CBS News that the question should not be whether teens are using AI, but how they are using technology.
She said that while most teens use technology for everyday tasks, parents need to know “if they are using technology in the absence of other connections, coping skills, and sources of support.” Around 12% said they had received emotional support through chatbots, and Mr Childs said it was concerning that teenagers were using chatbots as their only source of emotional support.
Joshua Goodman, a psychologist and associate professor at Southern Oregon University, said teens who don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents or others about their sexual orientation may feel more comfortable talking to an AI about their sexual health. These teens are “not looking for support” from the adults in their lives, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, Goodman said.
He said parents should look for signs of depression or warning signs around their teens, who are constantly using AI and technology to replace critical thinking.
“You want to be curious, but you also want to communicate to connect,” Childs said. He cautioned parents to not only pass on information and warnings to their teens, but also to use conversations to understand how AI is being used in their children’s lives. Parents can set boundaries and expectations around technology use that align with family expectations, she said.
He said most teens are probably using AI to improve their life skills, such as learning a new language or doing school work.
About a quarter of teens surveyed said chatbots were very or very helpful in completing school work, and another 25% said chatbots were somewhat helpful. Most said they use the technology for research and solving math problems.
About one in 10 teens said they do all or most of their schoolwork with the help of a chatbot.
More than half of teens say they have used a chatbot to search for information, and almost half say they have used a chatbot for fun or entertainment.
But some people are wary of how technology will affect their lives. “It’s already being used to spread propaganda. There’s no end to what can be done,” one teenager told Pew. “It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s AI anymore online.”
Pew surveyed 1,458 U.S. teens and their parents from September 25 to October 9, 2025.
