The AI paradox: Many young people use it without their parent’s knowledge

It is an open secret that AI is used not just in the workplace, but in almost every aspect of life. Even the youngest ones use generative AIs, especially chatbots like ChatGPT, to ask questions, do homework, or seek advice. The curious thing is that a survey has found that almost no young person admits this use to their parents.

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A new study reveals which AI tools teenagers in the United States use and how often, as well as how little their parents know about it.

Seven out of ten American teenagers have used generative AI tools, according to a report published today by Common Sense Media. The nonprofit organization analyzed responses to a survey conducted with parents and high school students between March and May 2024 to assess the scale and contours of AI adoption among teenagers.

How many young people use AI, and why?

More than half of the surveyed students had used text generators and AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Gemini, as well as search engines with AI-generated results. Around 34% had used image generators like DALL-E, and 22% had used video generators.

A June report on teenagers and AI published by Common Sense Media shows that the pace of adoption is accelerating. In late 2023, less than half of the respondents had used generative AI.

The most common reason for using AI was related to studies; more than half stated that they used it as “homework help,” mainly to “generate ideas.”

The second most common reason was old-fashioned boredom, followed by the translation of content from one language to another. And one in five teenagers had used generative AI tools to joke with their friends.

Almost all AU use is behind the parents’ backs

A notable conclusion from the survey is that many parents have no idea if their children are using generative AI. Only 37% of parents with children who use AI tools knew that they were doing so.

Almost a quarter of parents with children who use AI tools had mistakenly assumed they did not. Most parents had not talked about AI with their children.

Almost half of the parents surveyed were concerned that the arrival of generative AI tools could harm their children’s writing and critical thinking. However, it wasn’t all pessimism; parents were divided on how these tools would affect research skills, and more than a quarter stated that they expected AI tools to help their children generate ideas.

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Finally, one of the most concerning points of the study: teachers are more than twice as likely to accuse black students of using generative AI in their assignments compared to their white and Latino peers.