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We study AI's real effects—on learning, mental health, and child development


The Youth AI Safety Institute conducts its own research and partners with trusted experts and organizations to gather reliable, independent data about the impact of AI on kids' lives.

2026 | the common sense media census

AI Use by Tweens and Teens

Parents and caregivers deserve a clear picture of what AI looks like in their kids' lives. Kids deserve better support than they're getting.

 

Our new report will shape how we approach AI safety going forward.

 

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Tween with laptop looks over shoulder

Stats Tell The Story

Some teens are turning to AI for serious conversations

72%

of teens have used AI companions at least once.

33%

of teens have used an AI companion for social interaction, including romantic interactions, emotional support, and friendship.

1 in 3

teen AI companion users have chosen to discuss serious matters with AI companions instead of real people.

Source: Talk, Trust, and Trade-Offs: How and Why Teens Use AI Companions (Common Sense Media, 2025)

Youth AI Safety Institute research

Our research practices


Together with clinicians and child development experts, we focus on how AI shapes kids' lives and well-being. Our approach has four pillars:

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Synthesize what's known about how AI affects kids' cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical development from birth through age 18.

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Conduct independent research on how AI is showing up in kids' lives—often in partnership with trusted institutions—using surveys, experiments, focus groups, and longitudinal studies.

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Survey kids over time to track which AI tools they're using and how, in and out of school.

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Translate findings to inform risk assessments, parent guidance, classroom resources, and policy.

Get Involved

The choices we all make in the next few years will shape how kids learn, think, and relate to the world.