Parents Underestimate Teen AI Chatbot Use as New Survey Exposes Generational Perception Gap
Summary
A new Pew Research Center survey exposes a striking generational gap in AI chatbot use, finding that 64% of teens use AI chatbots while only 51% of their parents believe they do, with parents largely approving informational use but rejecting emotional support applications at an alarming 18% approval rate.
Key Points
- A new Pew Research Center survey of 1,458 U.S. parents reveals a notable perception gap, with only 51% of parents believing their teen uses AI chatbots, while 64% of teens themselves report actually using them.
- Parents are most comfortable with teens using chatbots to search for information (around 80%) but draw the line at personal use, with only 18% approving of chatbots providing emotional support or advice to their teens.
- Comfort levels with teen chatbot use vary by income and race, with higher-income parents more accepting of informational and entertainment uses, while Black parents show greater openness than Hispanic or White parents across multiple chatbot applications including emotional support and news consumption.