What if you had a friend who was always there, 24/7, ready to listen without judgment and offer advice on anything from what to wear to how to handle a tricky social situation? For a growing number of teenagers, this friend isn't human—it's an artificial intelligence.
Kayla Chege, a 15-year-old high school student, turns to ChatGPT for everyday dilemmas like back-to-school shopping and party planning. While she consciously avoids it for homework, she's part of a massive generational shift. The conversation around teens and AI has moved beyond academic cheating and into a much more personal territory: companionship.
More Than a Tool, A Digital Confidant
A groundbreaking study by Common Sense Media reveals a startling picture: more than 70% of teens have used AI companions, and half of them interact with these digital friends regularly. These aren't just question-and-answer bots like ChatGPT; they include platforms like Character.ai and Replika, designed specifically to simulate friendship and provide emotional support.
The findings have stunned researchers. Thirty-one percent of teens reported that their conversations with AI were “as satisfying or more satisfying” than talking with real friends. Even more concerning, a third of them have discussed serious issues with an AI instead of a person, despite half admitting they distrust the advice they receive.
The Allure of the 'Perfect' Friend
Why the appeal? As 18-year-old Ganesh Nair puts it, “AI is always available. It never gets bored with you. It’s never judgmental.” In a world of social pressures, an AI that always validates your feelings can feel like a safe haven. When you talk to an AI, you're always interesting, always right.
But this digital perfection has a dark side. Ganesh recalls a friend who used an AI to generate a breakup text for his girlfriend. “That felt a little bit dystopian,” he said, “that a computer generated the end to a real relationship. It’s almost like we are allowing computers to replace our relationships with people.”
Expert Warnings: The Hidden Developmental Costs
Experts are sounding the alarm. Michael Robb, the lead author of the Common Sense study, warns that adolescence is a critical period for developing identity and social skills. AI companions, he argues, should complement, not replace, real-world interactions.
“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,” Robb explains.
Eva Telzer, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has found that teens are even using AI to explore their sexuality, often on platforms intended for adults. A major concern she raises is the erosion of self-trust. “They no longer have trust in themselves to make a decision,” Telzer says. “They need feedback from AI before feeling like they can check off the box that an idea is OK or not.”
A New Kind of Addiction?
Seventeen-year-old Bruce Perry admits he relies on AI daily, from outlining essays to getting advice on what to wear. “If you tell me to plan out an essay, I would think of going to ChatGPT before getting out a pencil,” he says. While he finds it useful, he worries about younger kids who might grow up with AI as their primary companion, potentially seeing no reason to “go to the park or try to make a friend.”
The sentiment is echoed by others who see a fundamental difference between this and the rise of social media. “Social media complemented the need people have to be seen,” says Ganesh Nair. “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.”
His conclusion is chilling: “It’s the new addiction. That’s how I see it.”
Key Takeaways
- Widespread Use: A majority of teens (over 70%) are using AI for companionship, not just for schoolwork.
- The Appeal: AI offers a non-judgmental, always-available companion, which can be highly appealing during the turbulent teen years.
- Developmental Risks: Experts warn that over-reliance on AI can hinder the development of crucial real-world social skills, critical thinking, and self-confidence.
- Replacing Human Connection: There's a growing concern that AI is being used to navigate or even replace complex human relationships.
- A Call for Awareness: This rapidly growing, largely unregulated trend requires more attention from parents, educators, and policymakers to ensure technology supports, rather than supplants, healthy adolescent development.