Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact
More Americans are using chatbots, and some are adopting AI summaries and smart speakers. But views about AI and how fast it’s advancing tilt negative – even for younger adults.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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Eugenie Park
Research Assistant
Eugenie Park is a research assistant at Pew Research Center.
Publications
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report
Teens’ Experiences on TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat
Teens largely turn to TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat for fun and connection. But experiences around messaging, screen time and cyberbullying vary. And what teens say about how these sites impact their mental health.
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About 4 in 10 teens support cellphone bans in classrooms; fewer back all-day restrictions
About one-in-five teens support banning cellphones during the entire school day, including at lunch and between classes.
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Americans’ Social Media Use 2025
YouTube remains the most popular, but adults are increasingly using Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and Reddit. Use of some platforms varies by age, gender, and race and ethnicity.
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42% of social media users say the sites are important for them getting involved with political, social issues
Younger adults on social media are much more likely than older users to say social media is important for finding like-minded people and getting involved.
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report
Online Scams and Attacks in America Today
73% of U.S. adults have experienced some kind of online scam or attack, and these are common across age groups. Most get scam calls, texts and emails at least weekly.
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Americans’ support for school cellphone bans has ticked up since last year
More than four-in-ten Americans (44%) back bans on student cellphone use during the entire school day, up from 36% last fall.
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83% of U.S. adults use streaming services, far fewer subscribe to cable or satellite TV
Americans’ use of streaming services varies by age and income, but it’s still relatively common across groups.
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Teens, Social Media and Mental Health
Parents are more worried than teens about teen mental health. Both groups – especially parents – partly blame social media. But teens also see benefits.
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About a quarter of U.S. teens have used ChatGPT for schoolwork – double the share in 2023
Teens are far more likely to say it’s acceptable to use ChatGPT for research (54%) than for math problems (29%) and essays (18%).
