A new survey by YouGov, commissioned by Berlin-based NGO Interface, has exposed a significant gap between French parents' perceptions and their children's actual use of artificial intelligence. The findings, released this week, show that while 40% of 11- to 12-year-olds report using general-purpose AI services like ChatGPT on a weekly basis, only 26% of parents believe their children are engaging with such tools.
The discrepancy is even more pronounced among younger children. The survey found that 56% of 11-12-year-olds use at least one type of generative AI tool weekly, yet their parents estimate the figure at just 44%. For 13-15-year-olds, usage rises to 62% (parents estimate 52%), and for 16-17-year-olds, it reaches 70% (parents estimate 61%). The gap narrows with age, but overall, parents consistently underestimate how often their children turn to AI.
AI is woven into daily life
Artificial intelligence has become embedded in nearly every aspect of children's lives, from homework help and research to AI companions and features in social media and gaming. The survey, conducted in France from 24 to 30 June, polled 1,138 parents of children aged 11-17 and 970 children in the same age range. It covered categories including general-purpose generative AI (ChatGPT, Claude), AI companions (Character.AI), AI embedded in social media (Snapchat's My AI), and voice assistants like Siri.
Among 11-12-year-olds, 33% use voice assistants like Alexa weekly, 23% use AI embedded in social media, and 16%—roughly one in six—chat with AI companions. Jessica Galissaire, a senior policy researcher at Interface, notes that these tools can be particularly appealing to young users. "The AI chatbot is also like having a friend that is available 24/7. It doesn't get tired and it always agrees with you," she said.
Galissaire also points out that some of these platforms, such as Character.AI, require users to be at least 16 in the EU, yet 11-12-year-olds are accessing them. This raises questions about age verification and platform responsibility.
Parents feel left behind
The survey also reveals a widespread sense of vulnerability among French parents. Only 32% feel supported enough to help their children navigate AI use, 26% feel supported but not enough, and 42% feel not supported at all. "For the parents who don't have that knowledge or are less digitally literate or don't have the time, it's even more complex for them to put in place parental control tools and to discuss with their kids," Galissaire explained.
When asked who should bear responsibility for educating and protecting children, 51% of parents said teachers and schools, while 41% pointed to the platform companies themselves, and 30% cited public authorities. This suggests parents see a shared duty, but with a strong emphasis on educational institutions.
The findings come at a time when France is grappling with broader social unrest, including protests over school infrastructure and university admissions, and as the government invests heavily in AI infrastructure. The debate over children's digital wellbeing is also intensifying across Europe, with the EU's proposed EU Kids Act aiming to rein in platforms.
Galissaire highlighted another concern: many children feel they spend more time on AI than they intend. "92% of generative AI users say they spend more time than they would like on it," she said. This feeling is strongest for AI companions (59%) and AI integrated into social media (57%).
The survey's findings underscore the need for better digital literacy support for parents and clearer guidance from both tech companies and policymakers. As AI becomes more pervasive, the gap between parental awareness and children's reality is likely to widen unless action is taken.
