Many teens already use AI for schoolwork. Used well, it’s like a patient tutor that explains things. Used badly, it does the work for them, and can be wrong. The key is clear family rules: AI can explain and quiz, but the thinking and the writing are theirs, and they check what it says.
What the numbers say
- In a Pew Research Center survey (late 2024, published January 2025), 26% of U.S. teens said they’d used ChatGPT for schoolwork, double the share in 2023.
- A Common Sense Media survey of U.S. teens (13–17) published in July 2025 found 72% of U.S. teens had tried an AI companion (a chatbot designed for personal conversation or friendship) at least once.
Age rules
Most big chatbots require users to be at least 13, and teens under 18 typically need a parent’s permission. Some, like ChatGPT (since September 2025), offer parental controls you can link to your teen’s account. They let you limit some features, but don’t let you read your teen’s chats. Check each app’s terms.
Helpful vs. harmful uses
“Explain fractions like I’m 10.” “Quiz me on these spelling words.” “What’s wrong with this sentence, without fixing it for me?”
“Write my essay on the Civil War.” Copying answers word for word. Trusting it for facts without checking.
AI companions: talk about them
Companion apps are built to feel like a friend. Some teens find them comforting, but they can encourage too much time online and share inappropriate content. Ask your kids what apps they use, and keep the conversation open rather than secret.
Family rules that work
- Follow the teacher’s rules on AI. When unsure, ask.
- AI can explain, quiz and give feedback; the final work is written by the student.
- Check facts in the textbook or a trusted site. AI makes things up sometimes.
- No personal details (full name, school, address, photos) in chats.
- Use AI in shared spaces at home for younger kids.
Quick tips
- Try one homework-helper chat together, side by side.
- Ask your child to show you how they use AI. You’ll learn a lot.
- Turn on the parental controls in the apps and devices they use. See how to set up parental controls.
- Use the Prompt Creator “Homework helper” tasks, which ask the AI to explain rather than hand over answers.
Sources
- Pew Research Center (Jan 2025): About a quarter of U.S. teens have used ChatGPT for schoolwork
- Common Sense Media (2025): Talk, trust and trade-offs: how and why teens use AI companions
- OpenAI Terms of Use (minimum age)
- OpenAI: Introducing parental controls
Test yourself: play AI or Not? or Prompt Builder, quick free games.