Norton Survey: 40% of Australian Parents Suspect Their Child Uses AI for Emotional Support

Headlines in August 2025 said that 40% of children use AI for emotional support. That is not what the research found. The figure comes from a Norton survey in Australia and it counts parents who suspect their child does this. This short news explainer sets out what was measured. For advice on what to do at home, see our guide on children and emotional reliance on AI companions.

The Number and Where It Comes From

Norton’s 2025 “Connected Kids” Cyber Safety Insights Report was released in Australia on August 5, 2025. It reported that 40 percent of Australian parents suspect their child is using AI for emotional support or companionship (West Australian syndication). The coverage we could read does not give the sample size or method. The wording matters:

• The people surveyed were parents, not children.
• The answer was a suspicion, not a confirmed fact.
• “Emotional support or companionship” can mean anything from chatting about a bad day to relying on an AI character as a main confidant.

So the figure tells us parents are thinking about the question. It does not tell us how many children use AI this way, and it does not measure dependence or harm.

Figures From Other Countries

The same Norton research produced different numbers elsewhere. Norton’s global release reported that 41 percent of parents in a US survey said their child is turning to AI for companionship (Gen Digital). A report on the New Zealand findings gave 23 percent (IT Brief NZ). These come from different samples and should not be added together.

What Children Say Themselves

Asking children directly gives a different picture. In a nationally representative US survey, 72% of teens aged 13 to 17 had used an AI companion, but most said they used them for entertainment or curiosity, and 80% of users spent more time with real friends than with AI (Common Sense Media). Both surveys say children are using AI. Neither shows that most are dependent.

Why It Matters Anyway

Even a parent’s suspicion is useful. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry advises parents to talk openly about AI, explain that AI companions are tools and not friends or therapists, and speak to their child’s doctor if they see concerning changes in mood or behavior (AACAP).

Regulators are also paying attention. Illinois barred AI from providing therapy without a licensed clinician’s oversight in August 2025 (summary).

In the US, 988 (call or text, the 988 Lifeline) and the Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) are free help lines for anyone in distress. In an emergency, call 911.

Do 40% of children use AI for emotional support?

Not according to this survey. It found that 40% of Australian parents suspect their child does. Parents may over- or under-estimate.

Is this survey about teens or younger children?

The coverage we read refers to “children” and does not give an age range. Check Norton’s report for the ages covered.

Education only, not medical advice.