A significant new report from the Pew Research Center has shed light on how teenagers in the United States are engaging with both social media and artificial intelligence tools. Released on Tuesday, the study comes at a critical moment as global concerns about teen internet safety continue to mount, with Australia preparing to implement a social media ban for users under 16 years old starting Wednesday.
The research reveals that an overwhelming 97% of American teenagers access the internet daily, with approximately 40% reporting they are “almost constantly online.” While this represents a slight decrease from last year’s figure of 46%, it marks a substantial increase from a decade ago when only 24% of teens reported constant internet usage.
AI Chatbot Adoption Among Teenagers
Perhaps most revealing is the study’s examination of AI chatbot usage, which has emerged as a significant factor in teen digital behavior. According to Pew’s findings, approximately 30% of American teenagers now use AI chatbots daily, with 4% reporting they use these tools “almost constantly.”
ChatGPT dominates the AI landscape among teens, with 59% reporting they use OpenAI’s flagship product. This makes it more than twice as popular as its closest competitors – Google’s Gemini (23%) and Meta AI (20%). The study further indicates that 46% of American teenagers engage with AI chatbots at least several times weekly, while 36% do not use these tools at all.
Demographic Patterns in Digital Technology Usage
The Pew research uncovered significant demographic differences in both internet and AI chatbot usage. Black and Hispanic teens demonstrated higher rates of AI chatbot adoption (68%) compared to their white peers (58%). Particularly notable was the finding that Black teenagers were approximately twice as likely to use Gemini and Meta AI as white teenagers.
Michelle Faverio, Pew Research Associate, noted: “The racial and ethnic differences in teen chatbot use were striking, but it’s tough to speculate about the reasons behind those differences. This pattern is consistent with other racial and ethnic differences we’ve seen in teen technology use.”
Similar patterns emerged in general internet usage, with Black (55%) and Hispanic teens (52%) roughly twice as likely as white teens (27%) to report being online “almost constantly.” Age also plays a role, as older teenagers (15-17) tend to use both social media and AI chatbots more frequently than younger teens (13-14).
Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Technology Preferences
Household income appears to influence which AI tools teenagers gravitate toward. Approximately 62% of teens from households earning more than $75,000 annually reported using ChatGPT, compared to 52% of teens below that income threshold. Interestingly, Character.AI showed twice the popularity (14%) among teens from households with incomes below $75,000.
These findings align with broader research on technology adoption patterns across different socioeconomic groups, suggesting that access to and preferences for specific digital tools may be influenced by household resources and community norms.
Potential Risks and Concerns
While the study primarily focuses on usage patterns, it arrives amid growing concerns about the potential negative impacts of AI chatbots on vulnerable teenagers. Recent lawsuits against OpenAI highlight the most extreme risks – the families of teenagers Adam Raine and Amaurie Lacey have sued the company, alleging ChatGPT’s role in their children’s suicides by providing detailed instructions for self-harm.
These tragic cases underscore the importance of understanding not just how frequently teens use AI tools, but also how they interact with them and what safeguards might be necessary to prevent harmful outcomes.
The Broader Context of Teen Digital Health
The Pew findings contribute to an ongoing debate about social media’s impact on teen mental health. Some research suggests online communities can provide valuable support and connection, while other studies highlight the negative effects of excessive screen time and harmful content exposure. The U.S. Surgeon General has even called for warning labels on social media platforms, similar to those on tobacco products.
As AI chatbots become increasingly integrated into teenagers’ digital lives, understanding their usage patterns represents a crucial first step toward developing appropriate policies and safeguards that balance the educational benefits of these tools with potential risks.