Parents have no clue their kids are using AI for emotional support “All of us are struck by how quickly this blew up”

As if social media hadn’t complicated teenage life enough, AI is once again redefining what it means to grow up in the internet age. With many parents less aware than their kids about the power and potential uses of this emerging technology, it may come as a surprise just how deeply teens are integrating it into their everyday lives.

A new report from Common Sense Media found that the vast majority of teens, ages 13 to 17, have used AI companions—defined by researchers as “digital friends or characters you can text or talk with whenever you want.” When asking teens about their use of these AI platforms, the report drew a distinction between AI companions and AI assistants, which “mainly answer questions or do tasks.” In contrast, an AI companion is “designed to have conversations that feel personal and meaningful,” the researchers explained.

The risk assessment conducted by the research team led them to conclude that no person under 18 should be allowed to use AI companions. Character.AI, Nomi, and Replika were listed as examples of popular platforms used by teens in the U.S.

How are teenagers using AI companions?

The widespread and unregulated use of AI has many parents, educators, and child and adolescent health experts worried—and the report helps explain why.

Researchers found that 72 percent of teens have used an AI companion, with just over half reporting that they “use these platforms at least a few times a month.”

While much attention has been paid to academic uses—such as AI-generated essays and assignments, which have created major challenges for teachers and professors—less focus has been given to how teens are using the technology for social interaction.

A third of teens reported using AI to meet their social needs, including for romance and emotional support. Around 12 percent of respondents reported using AI companions for “emotional or mental health support.”

Even more concerning: the same percentage said they “find conversations with AI companions to be as satisfying or more satisfying than those with real-life friends,” and often chose to discuss personal issues with AI chatbots rather than with friends or family.

In addition to the widespread use of AI companies, the opinions of teens on the safety of the technology are also insightful. The researchers found that around a third of teens were made to feel “uncomfortable” after an interaction with AI, and 6 in 10 did not believe the big tech companies leading the development should be trusted to keep the public safe.

The government seems uninterested in regulating use among minors

James P. Steyer, CEO and founder of Common Sense Media, responded to the report’s findings by emphasizing how this technology is reshaping the way young people imagine and experience social life. “This isn’t just about a new technology—it’s about a generation that’s replacing human connection with machines, outsourcing empathy to algorithms, and sharing intimate details with companies that don’t have kids’ best interests at heart,” Steyer argued.

The authors of the study argue that policymakers should take the findings seriously and consider going so far as to prohibit the use of AI companions for minors. “While teens may initially turn to AI companions for entertainment and curiosity, these patterns demonstrate that the technology is already impacting teens’ social development and real-world socialization,” argued the team when releasing the report. While many in the tech industry are pushing to reduce regulatory burdens on AI—often out of concern that other countries could outpace the U.S.—researchers warn that such an approach could put children at risk.

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