More young people are using AI chatbots. Is it safe?

A new survey finds that 67% of American teenagers now use AI chatbots at least weekly, up from just 23% a year ago. The rapid adoption is prompting urgent questions about safety, mental health impacts, and the adequacy of current guardrails.

The concerns aren't hypothetical. Several high-profile incidents in recent months have involved AI chatbots providing inappropriate advice to minors, spurring calls for stricter age verification and content filtering requirements.

For prediction market traders, the question of AI regulation has become increasingly relevant. Markets currently price only an 18-22% chance of comprehensive federal AI legislation in 2026, but advocacy groups are pushing hard to raise the issue's profile.