AI Companions May Help – or Harm – Teenagers
AI companions are quickly becoming a part of teenage life. A new U.S. study shows that over half of teens use them—mostly out of curiosity or for entertainment. But the research also highlights serious risks to teens’ mental health and safety.
In the survey, an “AI companion” was defined as a digital friend that can be chatted with anytime—unlike conventional assistants or task-based tools. This includes sharing feelings, practicing conversations, role-playing, or creating custom characters. Examples include Character.AI, Replika, or even ChatGPT, if used in this way.
Sycophancy and Emotional Dependence
These apps offer seemingly personal conversations with “virtual friends,” yet often lack effective age verification, and some are marketed to children as young as 13. This raises questions about their impact on adolescent identity, social development, and relationships.
The risks are not merely theoretical. There have been reports of interactions with AI contributing to self-harm or aggressive behavior. These systems are designed to mirror the user’s views—a tendency known as “sycophancy”—which may increase emotional dependency. Testing by Common Sense Media found that the AI models can also generate highly risky content.
The study is based on a representative survey of 1,060 American teenagers aged 13–17, conducted in April and May 2025 by the research institute NORC at the University of Chicago.
Frequent Use, Limited Trust
According to the results, 72% of teens have tried AI companions at least once, and 52% use them regularly, typically several times a week. Daily users make up about 13%, while 28% have never used them.
One-third of teens use AI companions for social interaction—conversations, emotional support, or role-play. However, nearly half see them simply as tools or programs rather than replacements for real relationships. The most common motivations are fun (30%) and curiosity (28%). Fewer teens appreciate their advice (18%), constant availability (17%), or the ability to share feelings without fear of judgment (14%).
As for trust, 50% of teenagers find advice from AI companions untrustworthy, while the other half are partially trusting. Regarding communication satisfaction, 67% say AI conversations are less fulfilling than talking with real friends, but a third rate them as equal or better. Around 39% of users report applying skills learned through AI—like initiating conversations or expressing emotions—in real life.
Despite their growing presence, 80% of teens still spend more time with real friends than AI. Only 6% prefer AI companions. However, 33% have confided serious issues to AI rather than a human, and 24% have shared personal information, such as names, locations, or secrets. More than one-third reported feeling uncomfortable at some point with something the AI companion said or did.
Calls for Caution from Experts, Schools, and Parents
AI companions have become a common part of teen life, mostly used for curiosity or entertainment. A smaller portion of teens use them for emotional support or relationship replacement—which becomes concerning when a third confide in them about serious matters and a quarter share personal data. Over a third also reported disturbing interactions.
Since these systems can generate harmful content, the study authors recommend that users under 18 avoid AI companions. They urge parents, schools, and tech companies to work toward safer digital environments. Clinicians should also be aware of this trend when working with young patients—especially those dealing with anxiety, isolation, or self-harming behaviors.
Editorial Team, Medscope.pro
Source:
Robb M. B., Mann S. Talk, trust, and trade-offs: How and why teens use AI companions. Common Sense Media, July 16, 2025. Available at: commonsensemedia.org
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