New research reveals rising AI use among teens and its mental health impacts

A recent survey by Common Sense Media, titled 'The 2026 Common Sense Media Census: Tech and Media Use by Tweens and Teens,' reveals that nearly half of 9-12-year-olds are using AI chatbots, bypassing the typical 13+ age restriction. The study, based on interviews with over 1,200 American children aged 9 to 17, highlights a sharp increase in smartphone ownership, with more than half of 11-year-olds owning a smartphone and near-universal access by age 17. Screen time averages eight hours per day for teenagers and five hours for tweens. A separate study commissioned by the JED Foundation, titled 'Exploring Artificial Intelligence: Understanding Relationships between AI Use and Mental Health Among Middle and High School Students,' found that AI use is linked to worse mental health outcomes, particularly among students experiencing emotional distress. JED Foundation psychologist Kayla Anderson told NPR that while AI use correlates with poor mental health, the study did not establish causality. New research is expected to address this soon, potentially leading to stricter age restrictions and liability for AI companies.