According to engadget, a new Pew Research report published alongside its latest social media study shows that nearly one-third of U.S. teens use AI chatbots daily or more often. The survey of 1,458 teens, conducted between September 25 and October 9, 2025, found that 48% use chatbots like ChatGPT several times a week or more, with 12% using them several times a day and 4% using them almost constantly. OpenAI’s ChatGPT is the dominant player, used by 59% of teens, followed by Google’s Gemini at 23% and Meta AI at 20%. The report also notes that teens’ social media use has remained relatively stable, with YouTube still the top platform at 92% reach, but WhatsApp has grown from 17% to 24% of teens since 2022.
The New Daily Habit
So, a third of teens are chatting with AI every day. That’s a huge number for a technology that, for most people, basically didn’t exist three years ago. It hasn’t displaced TikTok or YouTube—those “almost constant” use numbers are still way higher—but that’s not really the point. The point is it’s carving out a significant, dedicated space in their digital routines. They’re not just trying it once. They’re going back. Regularly. For what? The report doesn’t dive deep into use cases, but you can guess: homework help, brainstorming, creative writing, or just plain curiosity and conversation. It’s becoming a utility, a tool in the backpack right next to Instagram and Snapchat.
The ChatGPT Monopoly And Legal Scrutiny
Here’s the thing that should worry every other AI company: ChatGPT has a 59% adoption rate among teens. That’s a massive lead over Google and Meta. It suggests OpenAI’s brand is synonymous with “AI chatbot” for this generation, much like Google was with “search.” That’s an incredibly powerful position to be in as these users grow up. But with that reach comes immense responsibility, and the shadow over this whole report is the growing legal and regulatory scrutiny. The lawsuits against OpenAI and Character AI over wrongful deaths are tragic and sobering. They highlight the profound, real-world risks of this technology interacting with vulnerable minds. When the FTC is probing Alphabet and Meta over safety for younger users, you know this is now a top-tier concern. These daily usage stats will only turn up the heat.
Social Media’s Steady State
The most surprising finding might actually be about what *hasn’t* changed. Despite the AI explosion, teen social media habits are “relatively stable.” YouTube is ubiquitous. TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat hold their ground. This tells us AI isn’t a replacement; it’s a new layer. Teens aren’t leaving their favorite apps to go talk to a bot. They’re doing both. The one notable shift is WhatsApp’s growth. Why? Maybe it’s about more private, group-based communication away from the algorithmic feeds, or perhaps it’s reflecting more diverse, global social circles. But the core takeaway is clear: the social media landscape has solidified, and AI has muscled in to sit at the table alongside it.
What This Means Moving Forward
Basically, we now have a baseline. A third of teens are daily users. That’s the new normal we’re starting from. For developers and companies, the teen market is officially a major frontier for AI, fraught with both huge opportunity and serious peril. For parents and educators, it means these tools are already deeply embedded in kids’ lives—ignoring them or banning them isn’t a realistic strategy. Understanding and guiding their use is. And for the market, it solidifies that consumer AI isn’t just a niche for tech enthusiasts; it’s a mainstream behavior for the next generation. The question is, what kind of digital citizens will this daily interaction with AI create? We’re just starting to find out.
