The U.S. Future Report: Voices on Growing Up with Technology
The U.S. Future Report shows teens lead with thoughtful agency and critical curiosity in our increasingly digital world.
Sep 16, 2026
The U.S. edition of the Future Report examines how American youth navigate the digital, cultural, and educational landscapes of generative AI. Grounded in a nationwide study of over 1,000 U.S. teens (ages 13–17) across six states—paired with in-depth focus groups and digital journaling—the research challenges the common narrative depicting teenagers as passive tech consumers. Instead, the findings reveal young people exercising thoughtful agency and critical curiosity:
- Nearly three in four teens (74%) say they use AI weekly or more as an interactive study partner to unpack complex topics and spark ideas.
- Half of surveyed teens (50%) consistently evaluate the trustworthiness of AI-generated content.
- 55% of teens surveyed actively cross-check facts against trusted sources.
I use AI to help me generate charts, and it actually inspired me to create my own charts. AI can inspire you!
Supporting the next generation in an AI-driven era requires a long-term, collaborative "village" approach—uniting technology innovators, educators, policymakers, and families. By combining structural safeguards and foundational digital literacy with sustained research, this report provides a shared foundation to help young people safely harness emerging tools and shape an empowering digital future.
For more information about the European Future Report, please see here.
