Teens, the Need for Constant Connection, and the Rapid Rise of AI Chatbots

A new Pew Research Center survey, "Teens, Social Media and AI Chatbots 2025," reveals a generation defined by near-constant digital immersion and the swift integration of artificial intelligence.

The report highlights that U.S. teens are not only deeply attached to video-centric social platforms but are also rapidly adopting AI chatbots like ChatGPT as essential digital tools.

The survey of 1,458 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 paints a picture of pervasive online life: 97% of teens use the internet every day, and a substantial four-in-ten (40%) say they are online "almost constantly." 

This intense connectivity sets the stage for how they engage with both social media and AI.

The constant scroll

In the social media hierarchy, YouTube remains dominant, used by nearly all teens. TikTok and Instagram follow closely, with over six-in-ten teens using both. However, intensity of use is the key metric. About one-in-five teens are on TikTok (21%) and YouTube (20%) "almost constantly." Overall, more than a third of teens (36%) maintain this "almost constant" presence on at least one major platform.

The report also confirms a digital shift away from legacy platforms. Facebook is now used by only about three-in-ten teens, a significant decline from a decade ago. Similarly, X (formerly Twitter) usage is low (16%). Meanwhile, WhatsApp is seeing growth, now used by a quarter of U.S. teens.

The AI adoption explosion

The most striking finding is the speed of AI adoption. Roughly two-thirds of U.S. teens (64%) report using an AI chatbot. This is not just casual use; about three-in-ten (30%) engage with these tools daily, including 16% who use them several times a day or almost constantly.

ChatGPT is the undisputed leader, used by 59% of teens, more than double the rate of the next most popular platforms, Google’s Gemini (23%) and Meta AI (20%). This rapid adoption demonstrates that AI is quickly transitioning from a novel technology to an expected utility for tasks like education and general information gathering among young people.

This report underscores that the American teenage experience is one of high-velocity digital saturation, where the ingrained habits of social media are now rapidly integrating with the emerging power of generative AI.