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
News Brief
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 — 11:20 am
Many children and teens are turning to artificial intelligence for help with homework, questions about their health and body and personal problems before turning to an adult, according to a new national survey from Common Sense Media.
The report, which surveyed 1,204 children nationwide, found that nearly 9 in 10 kids aged 9 to 17 use or interact with AI, including about one in four who do so on a daily basis. Children used AI primarily for entertainment, schoolwork and creative uses such as generating images and videos, with about half seeking information about their health or body and advice about future goals and decisions.
Nearly a quarter of children said they would turn to AI for help with schoolwork or homework before seeking guidance from a teacher, counselor, or parent. Those who struggled more with math skills, writing essays and working on something challenging were more likely to use AI weekly or more for schoolwork.
“You can exploit AI to do all your assignments from school, and use multiple AIs to make it look handmade,” one respondent told researchers.
Researchers also raised concerns about AI dependency, with 20% of children who use AI saying it would be difficult to stop using AI for a month — rising to 42% among daily users.
About 1 in 10 kids agreed that they sometimes feel AI understands them better than most people do, with 19% of daily users feeling that way. Kids who reported feeling lonelier were also more likely to use AI more frequently for social and emotional support, with those who had a harder time making friends more likely to use chatbots to practice social skills and discuss personal feelings or problems.
“We see tweens and teens are using these tools to create, to learn, to laugh, and to relate,” said the report. “But downsides lurk; heavier use of…
