Common Sense Media 2026 Census: AI Use by Tweens and Teens
The speed at which social media spread through young people’s lives offered a clear lesson in how quickly new technologies can take hold. Less than two years after OpenAI’s public release of ChatGPT in 2022, 7 in 10 teens age 13 to 18 said they had used at least one type of generative AI tool.
PAPER PUBLISHED BY
Common Sense Media
INTRODUCTION
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming woven into the everyday lives of American kids, despite a lack of safeguards in commonly used AI tools. Young people thrive when technology is carefully designed in ways that align with developmental needs and emotional well-being, so the swift pace of AI adoption by youth has raised concerns about an imbalance between risks and benefits. Young people’s futures will be shaped by this fast-moving technology, and it is critical to better understand and support their needs, moving forward.
To better see what that future holds, Common Sense Media has embarked on an inaugural study of AI use among America’s tweens and teens. This is the first in a series of studies tracking young people’s experiences with AI over time. In subsequent years, we will engage new cohorts of tweens and teens to understand how their experiences with AI change or remain the same over time. Our hope is to establish a baseline in terms of how tweens and teens are using AI today, both to inform leaders and stakeholders and to observe trends as AI use expands and evolves.
READ THE REST OF THE 2026 CENSUS IN ITS ENTIRETY
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