EU Kids Online

Generative AI, the new Google? Children and young people express distrust

89% of children and adolescents aged 9-16 years old used generative Artificial Intelligence between March and October 2025. Latest European project report analyses children's behaviour and experiences with AI-based tools in search engines, social media platforms, messaging services, creative applications and educational technologies

by School Editorial Board

10 February 2026

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

A strong concern about the loss of skills and an increase in laziness due to the delegation of tasks to ChatGPT, together with a lack of trust in AI for fear that it will provide invented or misleading information.
These are some of the main findings from Italia that emerged in the latest report by EU Kids Online, the European multidisciplinary research network that has been studying the transformations in the use of the Internet and digital technologies by children and adolescents since 2006

Safer Internet Day

Published on the occasion of Safer Internet Day on 10 February, the new report compares the behaviour of 25,592 children and young people aged 9-16 in 17 European countries on their use and experiences of AI-based tools in search engines, social media platforms, messaging services, creative applications and educational technologies. This is complemented by a qualitative survey of 244 adolescents between 13 and 17 years old in 15 countries. In Italia, the sample analysed is made up of 2,170 students aged 9-16 distributed in 135 classes, in 100 schools (33 primary schools, 33 secondary schools, 33 secondary schools).

Risk of becoming lazy

Almost all interviewees in our country, regardless of age and gender, emphasise that the greatest risk of AI is to be ʺsubstitutedʺ, to become lazy and less able to perform basic tasks, such as writing an essay.
"When the AI does summaries or helps with homework," says 13-year-old Elisa, "for me that is a disadvantage because then a person, like, uses their head less and that contributes to making people stupider. And 16-year-old Tommaso: 'What the use of these artificial intelligences takes away from you, in my opinion, more than creativity, is the will. [...] I don't even have the desire to waste so many hours doing it'.
In addition, although only 15% of respondents stated that they do not use AI for fear that it will provide fabricated or misleading information, the lack of confidence in the answers given by ChatGPT emerges as one of the main reasons for non-use in qualitative interviews. Some are aware of the tendency not to contradict the user and the persuasive ability of chatbots, which can easily mislead the user. "It says them in a very convincing way, so even if it said something wrong it would be very difficult to see that it is wrong. [...] It never contradicts you, by the way, very rarely." (Francis, 17). An observation that refers to the issue of sycophancy (servility resorting to insincere flattery to gain an advantage), a recent subject of study.

Main Highlights of the Report

- 89% of Italian children and adolescents reported having used generative AI between March and October 2025. Differences in gender and socio-economic status are minimal.

- The use of generative AI increases steadily with age, from 70% among 9-10 year olds to 98% among 15-16 year olds.

- Generative AI is mainly used as a learning support: 44% of Italian respondents said they used AI to summarise or explain long texts.

- This is followed by practical uses, to get suggestions on things to do, what to watch or listen to, or products to buy, a practice that registers a higher percentage in Italia (34%) than the European average (25%).

- Higher than the European average (15%) is also the proportion of Italian children and adolescents who have used AI to ask for advice on physical health or fitness (20%) or on personal concerns and issues (24%). The interviews show great caution among Italian teenagers, who say they trust the doctor more than the AI.

- In both Europe and Italia, instrumental motivations top the list of reasons for using generative AI for studying and learning. 45% of Italian children and teenagers say they use generative AI to save time; 43% because they could not find what they needed elsewhere; and 28% because it 'makes things easier'. Simplifying search practices turns ChatGPT into 'my new Google'.

- Artificial sociality, in which ChatGPT or other chatbots are used as companions, is a social practice located at the intersection of entertainment and escapism on the one hand, and the need for emotional support and advice on interpersonal relationships on the other.

- In the Italia sample, the main reason for not using generative AI was lack of interest (40%), followed by fear of not knowing enough about AI (39%), lack of need (38%) and doubts about its usefulness (34%).

- In Italia there is a higher percentage of those who indicate as a reason the belief that using generative AI is like cheating or stealing the work of others (22% vs. 8% in Estonia and 13% in Norway), concern for privacy (19% vs. 4% in Norway and 7% in Estonia) and fear of interacting with AI (18% vs. 1% in Norway and 2% in Croatia). Higher than in other European countries, but with a smaller difference, is also the percentage of those who cite rules given by parents as a reason for non-use.

- Trust in the reliability of generative AI shows marked differences in gender (17% of boys vs. 10% of girls) and age (9% of 9-12 year olds trust AI vs. 18% of 13-16 year olds). While age differences can also be observed in European averages, gender differences are more marked in Italia. Only 23% of Italian girls and adolescents say they have used AI to test its limits, compared with 36% of their male peers. On the contrary, the use of AI as a source of inspiration for one's own creativity is more widespread among girls and adolescents and decreases with increasing age. A gender usage gap seems to emerge, which in some ways reproduces the gender differences still present in Italy with respect to videogame practices, as well as in terms of STEM skills, and which risk compromising the acquisition of AI literacies by girls and adolescents.

- In particular, with respect to the playful and experimental attitude towards generative AI, 30% of Italian respondents say they use it to test its capabilities. One Italian respondent in five (20%) reports using it 'because it's a fun way to pass the time'; while 12% indicate, among the reasons for using it, 'to joke around and have fun with friends or siblings.

Differences and Differences

"AI is accessible and easy to use," says Giovanna Mascheroni, deputy coordinator of the network, and coordinator of the EU Kids Online research team in Italia, "Yet, gaps are emerging, especially in terms of gender and age, which reproduce the differences between males and females already observed with respect to Internet use. Gender differences could translate into inequalities in the benefits and risks of AI. We must also listen to the call from children and adolescents for a collective responsibility, shared between governments, the EU, businesses, schools and families to protect their rights and mitigate the risks".