2026 Survey on Generative AI Usage and Search Habits of Elementary and Junior High School Students
Piftee Co., Ltd. conducted a survey of 300 parents, revealing that over 60% of students have used GenAI and nearly 10% use it as their primary search tool. While usage is increasing, parents expressed significant anxiety about search literacy.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 19:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 15:19 (4h 48m after Collected)
Piftee Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa; CEO: Hideya Fukuda) conducted the '2026 Survey on Generative AI Usage and Search Habits of Elementary and Junior High School Students' targeting 300 parents of children from 3rd grade elementary to 3rd grade junior high school.
As generative AI, such as ChatGPT, spreads rapidly, changes are occurring in how children 'look things up.' Three years have passed since the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) released the 'Provisional Guidelines on the Use of Generative AI in Primary and Secondary Education' in July 2023. Ahead of Children's Day on May 5, Piftee, an AI search specialist company, investigated and analyzed the actual situation from a parental perspective.
Survey Summary:
1. 61.2% of elementary and middle school students have used generative AI (ChatGPT, etc.). 11.6% use it daily.
2. 9.9% of children choose generative AI as their first means of looking things up, rising to 4th place, nearly on par with YouTube (11.9%).
3. 54.4% of parents responded that 'how they look things up has changed compared to a year ago.' The most common change was 'an increase in questions to generative AI' (40.0%).
4. Regarding the 67.4% of children who have used generative AI, parents reported that they 'believe the AI's answers without question.'
5. 74.1% of parents feel anxious about their children's search literacy. Meanwhile, only 5.3% of households have rules regarding AI usage.
Details of Survey Results:
■ Google Search and Family Compete as Primary Means for Children; Generative AI Rises to Approx. 10%
When asked 'What is the most frequent means your child uses when they want to know something?', 'Asking family' was the most common at 36.4%, followed closely by 'Search engines like Google' at 35.0%. Notably, 'Generative AI such as ChatGPT' ranked 4th at 9.9%. This is nearly at the same level as YouTube (11.9%), indicating that generative AI is gaining presence as an information collection tool for students.
■ Shift to Google Search as Grade Increases; 50% of 3rd Graders 'Ask Family First'
By grade, 48.9% of 3rd graders 'Ask family,' while Google search remains at 24.4%. For 1st-year junior high students, Google search jumps to 58.8%, and 'Asking family' decreases to 29.4%. Furthermore, for 6th graders, 'Generative AI' rose to 2nd place at 24.0%. This suggests a turning point from high elementary to junior high school where the primary source of information shifts from people (family) to digital (search/AI).
■ AI Usage Rates Vary Significantly by Grade: From 47% in 3rd Grade to 76% in Junior High
Experience with generative AI reached 46.7% for 3rd graders, 72.0% for 6th graders, and approximately 76% from 1st-year junior high onwards. The percentage of daily users also tripled from 7.8% in 3rd grade to 22.2% in 3rd-year junior high, showing AI's establishment as a daily tool as students get older.
■ Over 50% of Parents Realize 'Search Habits Have Changed'; 40% Say 'AI Questions Increased'
54.4% of parents feel a change, with 10.5% saying it 'Changed significantly' and 43.9% saying it 'Changed slightly.' Changes included 'Increased questions to generative AI' (40.0%), 'Increased searching on YouTube' (28.7%), 'Decreased asking family' (23.1%), and 'Stopped using books' (21.2%). 'Decreased use of Google search' remained at 18.1%, suggesting AI is an 'addition' rather than a 'replacement' for Google search.
■ Approximately 67% of Parents of AI Users say children 'Believe answers without question' (omitted)
As generative AI, such as ChatGPT, spreads rapidly, changes are occurring in how children 'look things up.' Three years have passed since the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) released the 'Provisional Guidelines on the Use of Generative AI in Primary and Secondary Education' in July 2023. Ahead of Children's Day on May 5, Piftee, an AI search specialist company, investigated and analyzed the actual situation from a parental perspective.
Survey Summary:
1. 61.2% of elementary and middle school students have used generative AI (ChatGPT, etc.). 11.6% use it daily.
2. 9.9% of children choose generative AI as their first means of looking things up, rising to 4th place, nearly on par with YouTube (11.9%).
3. 54.4% of parents responded that 'how they look things up has changed compared to a year ago.' The most common change was 'an increase in questions to generative AI' (40.0%).
4. Regarding the 67.4% of children who have used generative AI, parents reported that they 'believe the AI's answers without question.'
5. 74.1% of parents feel anxious about their children's search literacy. Meanwhile, only 5.3% of households have rules regarding AI usage.
Details of Survey Results:
■ Google Search and Family Compete as Primary Means for Children; Generative AI Rises to Approx. 10%
When asked 'What is the most frequent means your child uses when they want to know something?', 'Asking family' was the most common at 36.4%, followed closely by 'Search engines like Google' at 35.0%. Notably, 'Generative AI such as ChatGPT' ranked 4th at 9.9%. This is nearly at the same level as YouTube (11.9%), indicating that generative AI is gaining presence as an information collection tool for students.
■ Shift to Google Search as Grade Increases; 50% of 3rd Graders 'Ask Family First'
By grade, 48.9% of 3rd graders 'Ask family,' while Google search remains at 24.4%. For 1st-year junior high students, Google search jumps to 58.8%, and 'Asking family' decreases to 29.4%. Furthermore, for 6th graders, 'Generative AI' rose to 2nd place at 24.0%. This suggests a turning point from high elementary to junior high school where the primary source of information shifts from people (family) to digital (search/AI).
■ AI Usage Rates Vary Significantly by Grade: From 47% in 3rd Grade to 76% in Junior High
Experience with generative AI reached 46.7% for 3rd graders, 72.0% for 6th graders, and approximately 76% from 1st-year junior high onwards. The percentage of daily users also tripled from 7.8% in 3rd grade to 22.2% in 3rd-year junior high, showing AI's establishment as a daily tool as students get older.
■ Over 50% of Parents Realize 'Search Habits Have Changed'; 40% Say 'AI Questions Increased'
54.4% of parents feel a change, with 10.5% saying it 'Changed significantly' and 43.9% saying it 'Changed slightly.' Changes included 'Increased questions to generative AI' (40.0%), 'Increased searching on YouTube' (28.7%), 'Decreased asking family' (23.1%), and 'Stopped using books' (21.2%). 'Decreased use of Google search' remained at 18.1%, suggesting AI is an 'addition' rather than a 'replacement' for Google search.
■ Approximately 67% of Parents of AI Users say children 'Believe answers without question' (omitted)