Social RoboticsCommon Sense census finds half of US tweens have used AI chatbots or companions
The 2026 survey of 9 to 17 year olds shows AI companionship reaching younger children.
Common Sense Media's 2026 census reported that 49% of tweens had used an AI chatbot or companion, even though most such services are designed for older users. Some 65% of young people use AI in their free time, yet few say they enjoy it a lot, in contrast with social media. The census also tracked rising smartphone ownership among children as young as nine. Released the day before New York signed its child AI safety law, it adds weight to calls for age-appropriate design of companion AI and the robots that carry it.
Source: Common Sense Media
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