A survey of 1,211 young people examines early AI adoption, the gap between screen use and enjoyment, and unequal access to computers
Common Sense Media’s census finds that nearly half of US children aged nine to 12 have used AI chatbots or companions.
Nearly half of US children aged nine to 12 have used an AI chatbot or companion, according to Common Sense Media’s latest census, which finds that tools intended for older users are already reaching younger children.
The research found that 49 percent of children aged nine to 12 had used these tools, rising to 77 percent among teenagers aged 13 to 17. Across the full sample, 65 percent had used an AI chatbot or companion.
Common Sense Media, a nonprofit providing research, education resources and advice about technology and media, surveyed a nationally representative group of 1,211 US children aged nine to 17. Its 2026 census includes AI use for the first time alongside television, online video, gaming and social media.
The organization discussed the findings on LinkedIn: “Platforms and products intended for older users, like AI chatbots and social media, are already popular with children under 13.”
AI use begins before the teenage years
AI chatbot and companion use is already established among younger children. Thirty-six percent of nine-year-olds had used these tools, rising to 55 percent of 11-year-olds.
Regular use was also common. Around a quarter of children aged nine to 12 used AI chatbots or companions at least weekly, compared with 47 percent of teenagers.
Common Sense Media’s accompanying analysis highlights the gap between children’s actual use and the age restrictions attached to popular chatbots, many of which are intended for users aged 13 and over.
Smartphone ownership also increases sharply before children reach their teenage years. Around 24 percent of nine-year-olds had their own smartphone, rising to 47 percent of 10-year-olds and 57 percent of 11-year-olds.
Frequent use does not always mean enjoyment
Among those who used AI chatbots or companions, just 11 percent of teenagers and 15 percent of younger children said they enjoyed them “a lot.”
Common Sense Media summarized the broader pattern on LinkedIn: “Heavy use doesn't always mean heavy enjoyment.”
Dr Supreet Mann, Director of Research at Common Sense Media, suggested that some young people may approach AI as a practical tool, similar to a search engine or word processor, while others may have mixed feelings about their experiences.
The census also examined entertainment media use across television, online videos, gaming and social media. Teenagers reported a median total of roughly eight hours a day, compared with around five hours among younger children, excluding time spent on homework.
Those totals combine time reported for different activities. Activities can overlap, such as watching a video while messaging, so the figures do not necessarily represent uninterrupted hours spent in front of a screen.
The organization said on LinkedIn that young people’s days were “crowded with screen media, leaving little time for other activities.”
Computer access remains uneven
While smartphone access was similar across household income groups, access to computers remained unequal.
Around 83 percent of young people in lower-income households had a computer at home, compared with 92 percent in higher-income households. Personal computer ownership showed a similar gap, at 46 percent and 56 percent respectively.
For schools and education providers, those differences affect the equipment students have available outside the classroom. Access to a phone does not necessarily mean access to a computer for writing, research or other schoolwork.
Alongside the census, Common Sense Media has made family technology planners and agreements available to help parents and children discuss how technology fits into their lives.
Jim Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, says: “Time spent with media and the value that young people get from it are not the same thing.”
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