AI, social media and future jobs among the biggest issues for teenagers in 2026

Thoughts about the future, using AI for homework, the upcoming social media ban and mental health are just some of the things that are on teenagers minds, according to the 2026 BBC Bitesize and 5 Live Teen Summit survey.

The survey of more than 2,000 13-18-year-olds across the UK also revealed that 55% are spending 4 hours or more a day on their phones, 44% want schools to offer more opportunities for work experience and 67% enjoy school or college. Read on to find out more.

The survey, carried out by Survation on behalf of Bitesize and 5 Live, has been running since 2023. It gives an annual snapshot of what life is like for teenagers across the country and covers everything from wellbeing to screen time and future aspirations. Here are some of the most interesting results from the 2026 survey.

1. The growing use of AI

For the first time, the survey suggests that majority of teenagers (51%) are using AI specifically for homework or coursework. That’s up from 29% compared to 2023 and up from 47% last year.

2. Bullying online and offline

The survey suggests that bullying takes places on the same scale online (53%) and face-face (53%) in schools and colleges. Fifty five percent said they have seen sexist content on social media, with similar numbers for racist content (57%). More than a quarter of girls said they had experienced sexual harassment at school.

3. Thoughts on the social media ban

Almost half (46%) of teenagers think the government is right to restrict social media to under 16s, but the survey suggests that 8 out of 10 (81%) think other people their age will try to get around the rules of a ban.

4. The future of work

Forty four per cent of teens said they would like schools to offer more opportunities for work experience, with a similar number looking for more guidance on managing finances (43%) and how to apply for jobs (42%). Thirty one per cent said that they have applied for multiple roles but haven't been successful so far.

5. Screen-time, scrolling and reading

A quarter of teenagers said they can’t remember the last time they read a book for pleasure and 74% said they spend more than three hours a day on their phones. When it comes to features like infinite scroll and autoplay, 46% think social media companies should limit or remove them altogether. If you'd like to reduce your screen time and get back into reading, take the reading personality quiz to find a book that suits your taste.

The Teen Summit Survey suggested that 60% of teenagers use generative AI, with 51% saying they use it specifically for homework or coursework. Of those respondents who say they don’t use it (35%), the main reason given was concerns over accuracy and trust.

AI can be useful for initial research or summarising concepts, but it's important to note that it's not 100% accurate. AI takes content from various sources from across the internet to present its answers. This means that it can sometimes 'hallucinate', give inaccurate or unrelated information, or it can plagiarise copyrighted content which might get you into trouble.

We've enlisted the help of the Revision Guys for tips on to using AI critically and responsibly for your studies. Watch this video on how to use effective prompts, how to check your sources and how to get the best out of using AI as a study buddy.

For further help with using AI for homework at school or college, check out this guide to help you with the dos and don'ts.

Support for a social media ban is strongest among 16-18 year olds, who will not be affected by any new rules with more than half (52%) saying they're in favour. Fifty per cent of 13-15 year-olds said they thought the government was wrong to bring in a ban.

While the majority of teens think a social media ban will reduce the time they spend on their phones (65%), a quarter think it will have no impact at all (26%). A quarter of respondents said it would have a mostly negative impact on their lives with the impact on friendships being the main reason given.

Forty six per cent of teenagers say social media companies should limit features like infinite scroll and auto-play.

Teens' concerns over social media and wellbeing

Fifty eight per cent of teens said they'd seen content encouraging dangerous challenges or stunts (58%) on social media. Almost a third (32%) said they’d seen content featuring pornography and 44% said they had seen content featuring extreme violence.

One in six girls had received unwanted nude images or videos and 41% of girls have seen content online encouraging disordered eating.

For help and support, head to the wellbeing page for tips, advice and inspirational stories to navigate life's challenges.

Twenty five per cent of teenagers said they can’t remember the last time they had read a book for pleasure. According to a study at the University of Cambridge, reading for pleasure from a young age has a whole host of benefits including better attention, memory, and executive functioning, greater academic achievement, fewer mental health problems, and healthier lifestyles, including more sleep and less screen time.

If you're struggling with getting back into books, check out this reading personality quiz some book recommendations that suit your vibe.

It's never too early to think about your next steps after school or college. Almost 8 out 10 (77%) of respondents said they feel positive about the future. When it comes to work, teenagers are keen to get more experience and take on new adventures for career opportunities. But the pressure of today's job market means opportunities are few and far between.

• Nearly half (46%) of teenagers said they would be willing to leave the UK for job opportunities in the future.
• Over a third (35%) of teenagers said going to university was not worth the cost.
• Nearly half of teenagers (48%) said they don’t have a part-time job but would like one. Of those respondents, 38% said there weren’t enough suitable vacancies near them and 31% said they had applied for multiple roles but hadn’t been successful.
• Only a fifth of teenagers said they had a part-time job and more than a third of those respondents said they applied for more than five roles before securing one.
• Thirty eight per cent of 16-18 year olds have not done any work experience before.
• Forty four per cent of teenagers would like schools to offer more opportunities for work experience, with a similar number looking for more guidance on managing finances (43%) and how to apply for jobs (42%). Thirty nine per cent said they wanted more guidance on stress management and mental health strategies.
• In light of AI and new technologies in the workplace the majority of teenagers (56%) think their school is preparing them well for the future of work but nearly a third thought it was preparing them badly (32%).
• Over a quarter (28%) of teenagers, said they were worried about AI, with those respondents saying they are mostly worried about it taking jobs in the future.

For help exploring career options, take a look at Bitesize Careers.

The Teen Summit survey was conducted by Survation, on behalf of BBC Bitesize and 5 Live. More than 2,000 teenagers, aged between 13-18 answered questions about the issues important to them. The results of the survey have helped us to get to know you and the issues that affect you, from your feelings about yourself to those about the world around you.This survey was conducted by Survation interviewing 2087 teenagers aged 13-18 years old online between 2nd July and 17th July 2026.