Why many teens are rejecting the AI hype — and calling it BS

Four years after chatbots entered the mainstream, a growing contingent of teenagers has turned against the technology. While many still use AI tools for schoolwork and social connection, a significant portion has become cynical about the whole phenomenon—and they're not shy about it.

The gap between use and enthusiasm#

Adoption of AI among young people remains widespread: a majority of American teens report using chatbots regularly. Yet their actual enthusiasm lags far behind the hype. Market research firm YPulse found that 37 percent of teens aged 13 to 17 find AI-generated content—including music and videos—cringeworthy. Meanwhile, more than half worry about the technology's capacity to generate misinformation and synthetic media.

A recent Pew Research study reveals deeper contradictions in how teenagers view AI. Many expect the technology to benefit them personally, yet over a quarter believe it will damage society over the next two decades, pointing to concerns about job displacement, eroded critical thinking, and environmental costs.

Why teens differ from previous generations#

Typically, young people embrace new consumer technologies with enthusiasm. Yet Melanie Green, a communications professor at the University at Buffalo, argues that AI breaks this pattern. Unlike previous moral panics rooted in generational divides, today's skepticism is coming from the young people themselves. She attributes this shift to their perception that adults and tech firms are aggressively marketing AI while downplaying risks. Green notes that this generation recognizes it will inherit the consequences of whatever disruption AI causes.

The cultural backlash taking shape#

The skepticism has spawned its own language and culture. On Bluesky, parents report that their children dismiss things as "AI"—using the term as shorthand for "that's nonsense." Educators on Reddit describe students who, even when they use AI tools, express anxiety about long-term harms and openly criticize AI-generated art. A growing chorus sees the technology less as a tool and more as a symbol of misplaced corporate priorities and generational burden.