Kids rely on AI before adults for homework help, health and personal problems, study finds
Kids rely on AI before adults for homework help, health and personal problems, study finds
Publish Date: 2026-06-10 14:24:00
Source Domain: edsource.org
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AI Use Among Youth: Many children and teens are increasingly turning to AI for help with homework, health questions, and personal issues before approaching a trusted adult, according to a survey by Common Sense Media.
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Prevalence of AI Interaction: Almost 90% of children aged 9 to 17 interact with AI, with one in four doing so daily. AI is primarily used for entertainment, schoolwork, and creative tasks.
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Preference for AI in Schoolwork: Nearly a quarter of children prefer to use AI for homework tasks before seeking help from teachers, counselors, or parents, especially those struggling with math, writing, and challenging assignments.
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Dependency and Emotional Support: Researchers noted high dependency on AI, with 20% of users finding it difficult to stop for a month, and 1 in 10 feeling it understands them better than humans. Lonely or unhappy teens often use AI for social and emotional support.
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AI Literacy and Safety Gaps: The report highlights a lack of AI safety discussions among children, teachers, and parents. Many children misunderstand AI’s ability to distinguish between true and false information and do not report inappropriate content from AI chatbots.
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Concerns About Loneliness and AI Overreliance: Increased AI use is linked to feelings of loneliness and less happiness among young people, possibly due to overreliance on AI or displacement of healthy coping skills.
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Need for AI Education and Safety Conversations: Many teens believe they understand AI better than adults, indicating a need for better AI education and more safety discussions in classrooms and homes.
