California teens are often described as isolated, screen-dependent, or disconnected. But new research suggests something more hopeful: they want more time together, in person, in places where they feel they belong.

 

The California Partners Project surveyed over 1,000 teens ages 13–18 across the state and held focus groups with dozens of parents and caregivers to understand how young people are connecting today—and what's standing in their way. 

 

Nearly 9 in 10 teens say being with friends in person matters to them. More than half wish they saw friends in person more often. And among teens who use AI chatbots, nearly half say they would use them less if they had more opportunities to be together in real life.

Belonging in a Digital Age: Teens, Tech, & Third Places explores how the loneliness, barriers, and decline of shared community spaces are reshaping adolescence—and why having places to gather may matter more than ever in the emerging age of AI.