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A qualitative exploration of parents and their children's uses and gratifications of ChatGPT
Author(s) -
Zhang Shirley,
Li Jennica,
Cagiltay Bengisu,
Kirkorian Heather,
Mutlu Bilge,
Fawaz Kassem
Publication year - 2025
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/fare.13171
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , advertising , business
Abstract Objective This Emerging Ideas report explores families' (parents and their children) uses and gratification for ChatGPT. Background Generative artificial intelligence–based conversational agents, such as ChatGPT, can be used to accomplish a variety of tasks, yet little is known about how and why parents and their children may use these technologies. Methods We conducted semistructured qualitative and exploratory interviews with 12 U.S.‐based families that had experience sharing a ChatGPT account. Families were recruited using social media advertisements, and at least one child and one parent joined the interview. We asked families about what they used ChatGPT for and why they used the platform. Results Families reported four main motivators for using ChatGPT: (a) information seeking, (b) enhancing productivity, (c) entertainment, and (d) social bonding. Potential barriers to use included concerns about (a) ChatGPT's credibility and capabilities, (b) being less familiar with using ChatGPT, (c) the platform's ethical implications, and (d) possible privacy risks. Conclusion Families use ChatGPT for various purposes, but their uses and gratifications sometimes may differ depending on their perceptions of and experiences with the platform. Implications Our findings suggest that with some improvements, ChatGPT has the potential to be a useful tool for both individual and shared use in families.