Teens are using AI companions—and some prefer them to people

The use of AI companions is no longer niche behavior but has become embedded in mainstream teenage life, according to a new report.

A nationally representative survey of 1,060 teens ages 13 to 17, conducted in April and May 2025 by Common Sense Media—a U.S.-based advocacy and research nonprofit—found that 72% have used AI companions at least once, and more than half qualify as regular users. Of those surveyed, 13% are daily users.

For the purposes of the research, “AI companions” were defined as “digital friends or characters you can text or talk with whenever you want.” This includes apps specifically designed as AI companions, such as Character.AI, Nomi, and Replika, as well as tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, which, though not built for companionship, are frequently used in that way.

According to the survey, most teens are taking a pragmatic approach to these tools rather than treating them as replacements for real-life relationships. Nearly half said they view AI companions mainly as tools or programs, while 33% avoid them entirely. However, a third said they engage with AI companions for social interaction and relationships, including role-playing and practicing conversations. Others said they’ve sought emotional support, friendship, and even romantic connections with AI.

Entertainment and curiosity are the primary drivers of use among teens, though a smaller number rely on AI companions for advice, appreciating their constant availability and nonjudgmental responses.

Michael Robb, head of research at Common Sense Media, expressed concern over one particular finding: 31% of teens said their conversations with AI companions are as satisfying—or more satisfying—than those with other people. A third have discussed serious and important issues with AI companions instead of humans, and 12% said they share things they wouldn’t tell friends or family.

“From a developmental perspective, teens are still learning the tricky and sometimes uncomfortable skills of human relationships like handling disagreements, reading subtle social cues, and learning to understand others’ perspectives,” Robb tells Fast Company. “AI companions are specifically designed to be agreeable and validating. They tell teens what they want to hear rather than what they might need to hear from someone in their real life.”

A separate safety assessment published earlier this year by Common Sense and Stanford University’s Brainstorm Lab warned that no AI companion is safe for kids younger than 18. Although most platforms technically forbid minors—except for Character.AI, which rates its service as safe for ages 13 and up—age verification processes are often easy to bypass.

For now, most teens still prefer people to bots. According to the recent report, 80% of AI companion users spend more time with real friends than with AI. Just 6% said they spend more time with AI companions than peers, while 13% spend about equal time with both.

“The fact that half of teens express skepticism about AI companion information shows they may be using their critical thinking,” Robb says. “Though additional digital literacy education could certainly make that number larger.”

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