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AI companion use is widespread among U.S. teens, and a substantial minority report using AI for social interaction and relationships. But the available survey evidence does not show how many teens use it because they feel lonely, or whether it replaces friendships with people.
What counts as an AI companion?
Common Sense Media defined an AI companion as a digital friend or character that someone can text or talk with whenever they want and that is designed for personal, meaningful conversation. The survey named Character.AI and Replika as examples. It also allowed that teens might use general-purpose assistants such as ChatGPT or Claude socially, even though those services are not designed specifically as companions.
The survey excluded homework helpers, image generators, and voice assistants that simply answer questions. Its figures therefore describe use under that survey definition—not use of any AI tool.
How common is teen AI companion use?
Common Sense Media’s nationally representative survey of 1,060 U.S. teens ages 13–17 was conducted in April and May 2025. Its figures show both broad exposure and varied reasons for use:
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| Survey finding | What it means |
|---|---|
| 72% had used an AI companion at least once | Any reported use under the survey’s definition; this is not the share using AI for friendship. |
| 52% were regular users | “Regular” meant using companions at least a few times a month. Within the survey, 21% said they used them a few times per week and 13% said daily. |
| 33% selected social interaction and relationships as a use category | This combined conversation practice, emotional support, role-play, friendship, and romantic interaction. It does not identify how many used AI specifically because they were lonely. |
| 46% viewed AI companions primarily as tools or programs | Many teens did not primarily characterize the systems as friends or relationship partners. |
The percentages describe answers from the 2025 survey’s teen population, not a measured rate of emotional dependence or friendship replacement. The 33% category is especially broad: it groups several different activities together and cannot be read as a loneliness statistic.
Does the evidence show that lonely teens are replacing human friends?
No. The 2025 survey measured reported use and attitudes at one point in time; it did not establish loneliness as a cause, measure whether AI use changes loneliness over time, or quantify how often teens replace human relationships with AI. Widespread use and social uses are important findings, but they do not prove that teens prefer bots to people or that companions cause isolation.
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Common Sense Media’s 2026 report surveyed more than 1,000 children ages 9–17 and said AI had become a confidant for some children; it also reported that nearly half had never spoken with their parents about AI safety. That is a broader snapshot of children’s AI experiences, not a directly comparable estimate of AI companion use or evidence that AI replaces friends.
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Common Sense Media and Stanford researchers have warned that companion systems can simulate emotional intimacy and respond in highly agreeable ways. They are concerned that this kind of interaction may make it easier for young people to avoid the friction involved in real-world relationships. These are expert concerns about design and possible effects, not evidence that every teen user is harmed.
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Nina Vasan, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Medicine and founder and director of Brainstorm, said: “Unlike real friends, however, chatbots’ social understanding about when to encourage users and when to discourage or disagree with them is not well-tuned.” Her point is about a difference in how a chatbot responds; it does not mean that every conversation with AI is harmful or that a chatbot can replace a human relationship.
A separate assessment of mental-health support
In an assessment announced in November 2025, Common Sense Media and Stanford’s Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation evaluated ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Meta AI for teen mental-health support. The announcement said researchers observed missed signs of mental-health distress and poorer safeguards in extended conversations, and concluded that the systems lacked core capabilities for safe mental-health support. That finding concerns these general-purpose chatbots in a mental-health-support context; it should not be treated as a finding about every kind of AI use.
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Common Sense Media senior director of AI programs Robbie Torney said, “It’s not safe for kids to use AI for mental health support.” Vasan also warned that engaging, validating systems available around the clock can interact badly with normal developmental vulnerabilities. These are statements by participants in the assessment, not a claim that all AI conversations have the same risks.
How can families talk about a teen’s AI use?
A useful conversation starts with what the teen actually does, rather than assuming that any use means loneliness or dependency. Common Sense Media’s 2025 findings and 2026 report point to the value of judgment-free discussion and AI literacy, particularly because many children have not discussed AI safety with a parent.
- Ask what the teen uses the system for: completing a task, practicing a conversation, role-play, emotional support, or companionship.
- Talk about how often and how long they use it, and whether they bring serious or personal concerns to it.
- Discuss what personal information they share and whether the teen understands that a chatbot is software rather than a human friend or mental-health professional.
- Ask whether using the system supplements contact with trusted people or is taking the place of conversations and activities the teen values.
- Agree on boundaries that make sense for the family, and identify a trusted adult or qualified professional the teen can turn to for serious distress.
These questions are practical ways to understand an individual teen’s experience; they are not a validated clinical risk scale. If a young person is in immediate danger or may harm themselves or someone else, seek urgent help from local emergency services or a crisis service in your region.
What remains unknown?
The available sources do not quantify how many teens turn to AI specifically because they feel lonely, whether companion use changes loneliness over time, or how often it displaces in-person friendship. The 2025 survey itself identifies further questions about platform-specific use, session intensity and duration, content, and developmental effects. Better answers require research that follows teens over time and distinguishes different platforms and kinds of use.
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