Two-Thirds of Teens Use AI for Emotional Support, Surveys Find

Nearly two-thirds of American tweens and teens now use artificial intelligence chatbots, according to two new surveys released this week. The findings reveal a rapid shift in how young people interact with technology, moving beyond academic assistance to seek emotional connection and coping strategies.

The first study, conducted by the online safety advocacy group Common Sense Media, tracks the age at which children begin using these tools. The data show that AI usage starts years before the minimum age of 13 required by most popular platforms. Approximately half of children aged 9 to 12 have already used an AI chatbot or companion. By the time students reach 13 years old, nearly three-quarters have experience with the technology.

The second study, led by the mental health advocacy group JED Foundation, surveyed 5,500 students aged 9 to 17 across the country. Ninety percent of those participants reported using an AI chatbot at some point. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents indicated they use the tools for dual purposes: completing schoolwork and finding companionship during moments of stress, loneliness, anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed.

Developmental psychologist Anne Maheux of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who was not involved in either survey, described the findings as remarkable. She noted that the adoption rate has changed dramatically in a short period. "It seems like just a few years ago, no one was using the technology," Maheux said. "And now it seems like roughly the same number of kids using it for homework are using it to get emotional support or help with coping."

Students in the JED survey reported specific ways they integrate AI into their daily routines. Arjun Sharda, 15, from Round Rock, Texas, uses both ChatGPT and Google's Gemini to practice sample test questions and understand concepts outside of the classroom. He stated that he and his friends turn to chatbots when they are stressed or anxious. "With tests, for example," Sharda said, "I was so scared of failing one of my first chemistry tests on conversions and moles that I kept asking ChatGPT 'Will I be OK? Will my GPA still be fine?'"

McKenzie Craig, 17, from Raynham, Massachusetts, has used chatbots since eighth grade. She relies on the tools to prioritize tasks when she feels overwhelmed with assignments. Craig also uses the technology to grade her own essays. "If I write an essay, I'll run it through either Grammarly or ChatGPT and have it graded, so to speak," Craig said. "It gives me feedback, and then I can edit accordingly."

Researchers at the JED Foundation correlated AI usage patterns with indicators of well-being, including history of suicidal ideation and attempts. Kayla Anderson, vice president of research and evaluation at the JED Foundation, explained that students using AI during periods of emotional distress were more likely to report poor mental health outcomes. Anderson cautioned that the data do not establish a causal link. "It's unclear, based on these data, whether AI use is contributing to poor mental health and well-being, or whether students who are already in distress in certain ways are more likely to turn to AI," she said.

Maheux noted that preliminary data from her own research suggests a bidirectional relationship. Her team found that middle school students who use chatbots for companionship became lonelier over time. A similar trend was observed in a separate study of young adults who relied heavily on AI to solve emotional problems. Maheux suggested that while AI may ease immediate distress, it can prevent young people from developing the skills necessary to tolerate normal daily stresses, which can lead to worse mental health over time.

Common Sense Media and the JED Foundation released their respective findings on October 30, 2026. The JED survey included 5,500 participants, while the Common Sense Media study focused on usage patterns among children as young as 9. Both organizations highlighted the speed at which AI has become a standard tool for both academic and personal support among youth.