“Chatbot, write me a breakup text.” 70% of teens now use AI companions for emotional support.

Teenagers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for companionship, advice, and emotional support, with more than 70% using AI companions according to a new Common Sense Media study. This shift represents a fundamental change in how adolescents form relationships and seek guidance, raising concerns about the impact on their social development, mental health, and ability to navigate real-world interactions.

What you should know: The study reveals that AI has become deeply integrated into teenage social and emotional lives beyond academic concerns.

• More than 70% of teens have used AI companions, with half using them regularly for conversations that can feel human-like.
• 31% of teens said their conversations with AI companions were “as satisfying or more satisfying” than talking with real friends.
• 33% had discussed serious or important issues with AI instead of real people, despite half saying they distrust AI’s advice.
• The study polled more than 1,000 teens nationwide in April and May.

Why teens are drawn to AI: Young people describe AI companions as offering qualities that human relationships sometimes lack.

• “AI is always available. It never gets bored with you. It’s never judgmental,” says Ganesh Nair, an 18-year-old in Arkansas.
• “When you’re talking to AI, you are always right. You’re always interesting. You are always emotionally justified,” Nair added.
• Teens use AI for everything from back-to-school shopping advice to crafting emails and messages for sensitive situations.

The concerning shift: Researchers and teens themselves worry about AI replacing human connection and decision-making skills.

• Kayla Chege, a 15-year-old Kansas student, notes: “Everyone uses AI for everything now. It’s really taking over. I think kids use AI to get out of thinking.”
• One teen’s friend had an AI chatbot write the breakup text ending his two-year relationship, which Nair called “dystopian.”
• “One of the concerns that comes up is that they no longer have trust in themselves to make a decision,” said Eva Telzer, a psychology professor at UNC Chapel Hill.

What experts are finding: Research reveals widespread AI use among children and concerning patterns of dependency.

• Children as young as 8 are using generative AI, according to Telzer’s research.
• Teens are using AI to explore sexuality and for companionship, with SpicyChat AI being one of the top apps they frequent.
• The potential dangers gained national attention when a 14-year-old Florida boy died by suicide after developing an emotional attachment to a Character.AI chatbot.

The bigger picture: AI’s role in teenage life differs fundamentally from social media’s impact on youth development.

• “Social media complemented the need people have to be seen, to be known, to meet new people,” Nair explained.
• “I think AI complements another need that runs a lot deeper — our need for attachment and our need to feel emotions. It feeds off of that.”
• “It’s the new addiction. That’s how I see it,” Nair added.

What researchers recommend: Experts call for better regulation and awareness of AI’s impact on adolescent development.

• Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that studies digital media use, recommends that minors not use AI companions after finding ineffective age restrictions and harmful content.
• “If teens are developing social skills on AI platforms where they are constantly being validated, not being challenged, not learning to read social cues or understand somebody else’s perspective, they are not going to be adequately prepared in the real world,” said Michael Robb, the study’s lead author.
• “Parents really have no idea this is happening,” Telzer noted, emphasizing the need for greater awareness.