More than half of US children aged 9 to 17 now have at least one AI app on their phone, according to anonymized data from Findmykids, a family safety app. In September 2026, 56.3% of kids in that age group had an AI app installed, up from 41.6% a year earlier. The average number of AI apps per child grew 54%. ChatGPT, usually self-installed, rose from 19% to 28% of phones. The youngest users are adopting fastest: among 9-10 year-olds, ownership jumped from 37% to 53%, approaching the 58% rate among teens, even though ChatGPT is not intended for under-13s.
Usage patterns diverge sharply. Chatbots function like search tools: daily users grew 71%, but time spent per session remained flat. AI companions—characters with a name, personality, and memory—are on only 8.7% of phones, yet use peaks at 103 minutes a day on weekends. “The average chatbot user spends 18 minutes a day in it. The average AI companion user spends 93. That gap, not the install count, is what parents should watch,” said the Findmykids Analytics Team.
Restrictions on one app do not close the category. After Character.AI ended open-ended chats for minors, its daily users more than halved, while Talkie grew from 3.3% to 4.9% of phones. Safety concerns are mounting: nearly half of teens using AI chatbots report at least one harmful experience, according to a national Cyberbullying Research Center survey. “Chatbots have moved past novelty status for many young people,” writes the center’s co-director Sameer Hinduja.
Findmykids allows parents to see which apps, including new AI apps, a child has installed and their daily screen time. The full study is available on the Findmykids blog. The data reflects Findmykids users only, not all US children. Letem LTD develops Findmykids, a globally recognized family safety and parental control application offering real-time location tracking, app usage monitoring, and SOS features.
The implications are significant for parents, educators, and policymakers. The rapid rise of AI companions, with their lengthy daily engagement, suggests these apps could shape children’s social and emotional development in ways that are not yet fully understood. The finding that nearly half of teen chatbot users have had at least one harmful experience underscores the need for robust parental controls and digital literacy education. As AI becomes more embedded in children’s lives, monitoring usage and understanding the difference between utilitarian chatbots and immersive companions will be crucial for safeguarding young users.
