Teens embrace genAI, but parents are out of the loop
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Nearly three-fourths of teens have used at least one type of generative AI tool, most often for homework help, according to a Wednesday Common Sense Media report.
The big picture: Teens and their parents exhibit a disconnect in their understanding of AI use and its potential outcomes.
- Teens between the ages of 13 and 18 are more likely to use AI-supported search and chatbots as opposed to image and video generators.
State of play: Black and Latino teens are more likely than white teens to engage in a wider variety of activities with generative AI.
- Black teens are more than twice as likely as white or Latino teens to say that teachers flagged their schoolwork as being AI-generated when it was not.
- "This suggests that software to detect AI, as well as teacher's use of it, may be exacerbating existing discipline disparities among historically marginalized groups," the report said.
The other side: Parents of Black teens reported higher optimism regarding the impacts of generative AI on learning, skill acquisition and inequality in education, the survey found.
- Parents of white teens expressed more concern about biased or hateful content and students using AI to cheat on schoolwork.
Reality check: Most parents don't know about their kids' AI use, according to the report.
- 37% of parents whose teen reported using at least one AI tool were aware of such use.
- 23% of this slice of parents thought their child hadn't used any generative AI platforms.
The intrigue: Students who have had classroom conversations about AI have more nuanced views about its pros and cons, the report said.
- 84% who have had class discussions are more likely to agree that genAI tools and features could help students brainstorm ideas for school projects, compared to 65% among those who have not.
- 71% who have had class discussions are more likely to agree that AI can help personalize learning for students, compared to 55% among those who have not.
- 76% who have had class discussions recognize that generative AI can give students an advantage in future jobs, compared to 56% among those who have not.
Go deeper: Exclusive: Chatbots pose unique risks to teens
Methodology: The nationally representative survey includes responses from 1,045 adults who are parents or guardians of one or more teens aged 13 to 18 and responses from 1,045 teens.
- Data was collected from March to May 2024 by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Common Sense Media. The margin of error is ±3.6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level for results based on the entire sample of teens.
