A recent report by the Pew Research Center analyzes the current state of social media and AI chatbot use among American teenagers, covering factors such as age, race, frequency of use, and time spent online. Against the backdrop of growing global concern for youth online safety, this report has reignited discussions about how technology impacts the mental health of younger generations and the risks of use, dependence, and addiction.
As countries begin to address these issues, the Australian government has taken the lead by announcing a ban on social media use by teenagers under the age of 16, demonstrating that digital use among young people is gradually being incorporated into national policy regulations. In contrast, Taiwan currently appears to lack a comprehensive survey and assessment of the use of artificial intelligence and social media by teenagers and minors. Against the backdrop of frequent school bullying incidents and a declining age of crime, this research report not only provides important international reference but also highlights the urgent need for attention and discussion on these issues in Taiwan.
The long-standing controversy surrounding the impact of social media on adolescent health
The impact of social media on adolescent mental health has long been a subject of debate. On one hand, some studies indicate that online communities can help adolescents build connections, gain support, and even improve their mental well-being; however, other studies warn that excessive use of social media platforms and prolonged exposure to negative information may exacerbate anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation. Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General even called on social media platforms to add warning labels to their products to alert users to potential risks.
Teenagers are online almost all day long.
Data from The Pew Research shows that 97% of teenagers use the internet daily, and about 40% of respondents said they are "almost always online." While this percentage is slightly lower than the 46% in last year's survey, it is still far higher than the 24% ten years ago, reflecting the deep integration of the internet into teenagers' daily lives. With the rapid popularization of artificial intelligence, chatbots have become a new factor influencing teenagers' online experience. The study indicates that about 30% of American teenagers use AI chatbots daily, with 4% saying they use them almost constantly.
ChatGPT is the most popular chatbot among teenagers.
ChatGPT is currently the most popular chatbot among teenagers, with 59% of respondents saying they have used it, more than double the usage rate of Google Gemini (23%) and Meta AI (20%). Overall, 46% of teenagers use chatbots at least several times a week. The study also analyzed the impact of ethnicity, age, and family background on usage behavior. Among Black and Hispanic teenagers, approximately 68% said they had used chatbots, compared to 58% of white teenagers. Black teenagers were about twice as likely to use Gemini and Meta AI as white teenagers. Michelle Favillier, an assistant researcher at the Pew Research Center, pointed out that racial differences in teenagers' technology use are quite significant, but the underlying reasons remain difficult to pinpoint, a phenomenon consistent with past observations of differences in social media use. The study also showed that Black and Hispanic teenagers were more likely to say they were "almost always online," about twice as likely as white teenagers.
In terms of age, teenagers aged 15 to 17 use social media and AI chatbots more frequently than those aged 13 to 14. Household income also has an impact: 62% of teenagers from households with an annual income exceeding $75,000 use ChatGPT, compared to 52% from lower-income households. Furthermore, Character.AI usage is 14% among lower-income households, twice that of higher-income households.
Could OpenAI's chatbot lead teenagers to make self-destructive decisions?
While most teenagers initially use chatbots simply as tools to answer questions or help with homework, experts warn that such interactions can gradually develop into dependency and even pose potential harm. In two separate cases, families have filed lawsuits against OpenAI alleging that ChatGPT's responses were related to their children's self-harm. These cases allege that the chatbot provided self-harm guidance to teenagers. OpenAI responded that one of the teenagers allegedly bypassed security mechanisms and violated the terms of use, therefore the company should not be held liable. They have not yet responded to the other case.
The AI role-playing platform Character.AI has also drawn attention due to its impact on the mental health of teenagers. After several controversies, the company has stopped providing chatbot services to minors and has instead launched more gamified interactive products.
Experts point out that while cases involving extreme consequences represent only a tiny fraction of the massive usage, on a platform with hundreds of millions of users, any small percentage could represent a significant risk. Nina Vassan, director of the Stanford University Mental Health Innovation Lab and a psychiatrist, stated that even if AI chatbots were not originally designed to provide emotional support, the fact that people still use them in this way means that companies have a responsibility to further adjust their products to reduce potential harm to teenagers.
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This article, "Artificial Intelligence Research: Approximately 30% of American Teenagers Use AI Chatbots Daily, Raising Growing Security Concerns," first appeared on ABMedia, a ABMedia .
