72% of U.S. Teens Have Tried AI Companions, Study Reveals Shift in Digital Social Habits

A new study from Common Sense Media, conducted with NORC at the University of Chicago, reveals that 72% of U.S. teenagers aged 13 to 17 have tried AI companions — digital chatbots built for personal, often emotionally engaging interactions. These companions, provided by platforms like Replika or Character.AI, are distinct from AI tools used for tasks like schoolwork or image generation. The study underscores that AI chatbots are becoming a common digital presence in teens’ lives.

The study also found that 52% of teens are regular users of AI companions, with 13% using them daily and another 21% a few times per week. Interestingly, boys (31%) were slightly more likely than girls (25%) to have never used one. The research suggests these AI interactions are more than a passing trend—they’re integrating into the everyday emotional and social lives of young users.

Teens reported a variety of motivations for engaging with AI companions: 30% cited entertainment, 28% were curious about the technology, 18% used them for advice, and 17% appreciated their constant availability. Despite the growing usage, trust remains a concern. Half of the teens said they don’t trust the information given by these bots, and older teens (ages 15–17) were even more skeptical than their younger peers.

The study also revealed that 39% of teens use AI companions to practice real-life social interactions, with many reporting improvements in social skills, conversation starters, and expressing emotions. Notably, one-third of teens even said they found AI chats more satisfying than conversations with real friends, although the majority still preferred human interactions.

Despite growing engagement, fears that AI companions might replace real relationships are not fully substantiated by the data. A reassuring 80% of teens using AI companions reported spending more time with real-life friends than with AI, while only 6% said the opposite. Still, with mental health concerns and ongoing lawsuits against AI firms like Character.AI, the findings raise important questions about AI’s role in the social and emotional development of young people.

Source: Techcrunch