A recent survey reveals that parents considerably underestimate their teenagers’ use of generative artificial intelligence. The technology, made popular by conversational platforms such as ChatGPT, enables users to ask a bot any question and receive a specific and detailed original response.
The survey, conducted this spring by the nonprofit organization Common Sense Media, included responses from 1,045 U.S. adult parents and their teens. The findings indicate that 70 percent of the teens surveyed have used generative AI. However, only 37 percent of the parents of these teens were aware of their children’s use of the technology. Nearly a quarter of parents were completely unaware of their teen’s engagement with such platforms, and about 40 percent of adults were unsure about their child’s experience with these tools.
Teens reported using generative AI most commonly for homework assistance, to alleviate boredom, and for translating text from one language to another. A significant number admitted to using the technology for school assignments without their teachers’ permission. Additionally, some teens used AI to create new content with someone else’s voice or image, often as a joke or to tease others. Findings related to the use of AI for creating explicit nonconsensual imagery will be included in a future report.
Amanda Lenhart, head of research for Common Sense Media, emphasized the importance of parents discussing the complexities of generative AI with their children to prepare them for potential encounters.
“Parents need to talk about it because their kids are already using it, even if they don’t think they are,” Lenhart stated.
While this technology can benefit teens in multiple ways, Lenhart noted that young users might not be aware of its potential for reproducing bias and disseminating incorrect or misleading information, often referred to as AI “hallucinations.” Teenagers might also be unaware of when the use of generative AI tools constitutes cheating, violates privacy by creating imagery without consent, or lack understanding of the different training and tuning nuances of large language models.
“These tools pull from the best and the worst of the internet and humanity, and that means sometimes what they share is both wrong and awful,” Lenhart added.
Parents could significantly benefit from familiarizing themselves with generative AI, which could help them initiate informed discussions with their children. Lenhart recommended that parents explore these platforms, as they might already be using services with generative AI without realizing it. For instance, Google’s Gemini search product, Meta’s Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp all incorporate generative AI capabilities. Similarly, Snap’s chatbot My AI is familiar to many teens.
Engaging with their teens about generative AI, parents could experiment with the technology together. Examples include asking the AI to write a silly poem, generate Halloween costume ideas, or plan a week of meals. This hands-on approach could help teens understand AI’s capabilities and limitations more effectively.
The survey also highlighted that discussions about generative AI aren’t frequently happening in school settings, which Lenhart believes is significant. Common Sense Media’s research indicates that teens with more exposure to comprehensive conversations and lessons about AI have a better grasp of its pros and cons. Yet, over half of the surveyed teens reported a lack of such discussions at school.
Lenhart stressed the importance of clear guidelines for using generative AI in schoolwork, acknowledging that these rules could differ among teachers.
“Most adolescents don’t want to cheat. They want to use it in a way that is appropriate for learning, so tell them where that line is so they can approach it but not cross it.”
The survey also pointed out that Black students are disproportionately affected by accusations of cheating. Black teens were twice as likely as their White and Latino peers to report that their teachers incorrectly flagged their schoolwork as AI-generated when it wasn’t. This finding reflects historic inequities in school discipline faced by Black youth.
“AI tools are not exempt from the bias you probably already experience in your school,” Lenhart said.
This issue underscores the necessity for adults, both in school and home environments, to be cognizant of the challenges that teens will encounter in the era of generative AI.
