57% of US Teens Use AI Chatbots for Schoolwork, 12% for Emotional Support

A new Pew Research Center survey reveals that 57% of US teens have used AI chatbots to search for information, while 54% have turned to them for schoolwork help. The study, which surveyed 1,453 US teens ages 13 to 17 between October 2024 and February 2025, also found that 47% use AI chatbots for fun or entertainment, and 12% have sought emotional support through these tools.

Among teens who have used AI chatbots, 74% say they've used them to search for information, making it the most common use case. Schoolwork assistance follows closely at 71%, while 59% use them for entertainment purposes. The 12% who have used AI chatbots for emotional support represents a notable finding, suggesting some teens are turning to AI for mental health-related needs.

When asked about their most common use, 24% of teen AI users say searching for information tops their list, followed by 20% who primarily use AI for schoolwork. Entertainment ranks third at 19%, with 7% citing emotional support as their primary use case.

Daily Usage Patterns The survey found that 22% of teens who have used AI chatbots do so daily, while 28% use them several times a week. This suggests that for a significant minority of teens, AI chatbots have become a regular part of their digital routine.

Age Differences Older teens show higher adoption rates across all use cases. For instance, 61% of 15- to 17-year-olds have used AI chatbots for schoolwork compared to 50% of 13- to 14-year-olds. Similarly, 51% of older teens have used AI for emotional support versus 38% of younger teens.

Platform Preferences When asked which AI chatbot they use most often, 29% of teen users say ChatGPT, making it the most popular platform. Google Gemini follows at 19%, while 11% prefer Snapchat's My AI. Other platforms like Grok, Microsoft Copilot, and Claude each capture smaller shares of the teen market.

Parental Awareness Interestingly, 58% of teens who have used AI chatbots say their parents know little to nothing about their AI use. Only 22% report that their parents know a lot about how they use these tools, suggesting a significant knowledge gap between teens and parents regarding AI adoption.

Academic Integrity Concerns The survey also explored teens' views on AI use in academic settings. While 54% have used AI for schoolwork, only 13% say they've used it to write papers, and 12% for math problems. This suggests that most teens are using AI as a research or study aid rather than for direct assignment completion.

Perceptions of AI Detection When it comes to academic integrity, 60% of teens believe that teachers can often or sometimes tell when a paper is written by AI. However, 28% think teachers can rarely or never detect AI-written work, indicating varying levels of confidence in AI detection capabilities.

Impact on Learning Teens are divided on whether AI helps or hinders learning. While 45% believe AI helps them learn new things faster, 19% think it makes them less likely to learn independently. Additionally, 27% say AI makes them less likely to do their own work, though 44% disagree with this statement.

Emotional Support Use The finding that 12% of teens have used AI chatbots for emotional support raises important questions about the role of AI in youth mental health. While AI cannot replace professional mental health care, the data suggests some teens are turning to these tools during times of emotional need.

Educational Implications These findings have significant implications for educators and parents. With more than half of teens using AI for schoolwork, schools may need to develop clear policies around appropriate AI use in academic settings. The data also suggests opportunities for integrating AI tools into educational frameworks in ways that enhance rather than replace learning.

Future Trends Given that 73% of teens say they've heard of AI chatbots and 52% have used them, it's likely that AI adoption among teens will continue to grow. As these tools become more sophisticated and integrated into everyday applications, their role in teen education, entertainment, and even emotional support may expand further.

The survey highlights both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI adoption among teens. While AI tools offer valuable support for learning and information gathering, they also raise questions about academic integrity, independent learning, and the appropriate boundaries for AI use in educational and personal contexts.

Methodology Note The Pew Research Center conducted this survey using the Youth Internet Panel, a probability-based online panel of US teens. The margin of error for the full sample is ±3.2 percentage points, while for teen AI users it is ±4.7 percentage points.