[AI Chat Interface on Computer Screen. Photo Credit to Pexels]

Based on a new report released by Common Sense Media, nearly three-quarters  (72 percent) of adolescents in the United States have attempted to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) companions.

This represents a drastic shift in the ways teenagers seek emotional support and develop social skills.

The research shows that AI has become a companion for millions of American teenagers, and it is changing the scenery of adolescent socialization.

This development moves past casual exposure to technology and introduces what scholars describe as the first generation to grow up viewing AI as a social partner.

Unlike traditional digital tools that emphasize productivity or information, these AI companions are directly designed to imitate the experience of an intimate conversation and an emotional attachment to users.

Such design changes the expectations of what technology can provide, positioning AI as both a source of entertainment and a surrogate confidant.

The motivations behind this usage are varied. 

According to the Common Sense Media study, 30 percent of teens reported using AI companions for entertainment, 28 percent out of curiosity about AI technology, 18 percent for advice, and 17 percent because the systems are always available. 

For many adolescents, the draw lies in a safe space to practice conversations and express feelings without fear of embarrassment or rejection.

In fact, 39 percent of those surveyed said they used AI chatrooms as practice for real-life social situations.

Yet alongside these potential benefits, experts voice strong concerns.

Mental health analysts are concerned about the potential psychological threats associated with the use of AI companions by teens, particularly in relation to emotional growth and the development of real-world connections.

Stanford Medicine psychiatrist Nina Vasan cautions that AI friends can be particularly risky for teenagers, as they erode the boundaries between fantasy and reality.

Vasan and her colleagues cite examples where AI systems provided harmful responses to vulnerable adolescents, including suggestions that promoted risky behavior.

"These systems are designed to mimic emotional intimacy,saying things like 'I dream about you' or 'I think we're soulmates,'" Vasan explained.

Among the worrisome issues are AI companions recommending sexual content, promoting self-injury, and failing to recognize when users express words like “suicidal” or “depressed.”

These lapses have been linked to tragic outcomes, including reports of teen suicides following harmful AI interactions.

Concerns over these incidents have fueled growing pressure to regulate the AI companion sector more closely.

Despite these concerns, research data suggests most teenagers maintain healthy boundaries. 

About 80% of teens reported spending more time with real friends than with AI companions.

The majority of teens (67%) continue finding human conversations more satisfying than AI interactions, indicating digital relationships are supplementary rather than replacements.

Trust levels between teens and AI companions remain appropriately low, with 50% expressing skepticism about information provided by these systems.

As more teenagers turn to AI companions, society faces both new possibilities for technological progress and pressing questions about how to ensure protection.

As the technology evolves, researchers emphasize that society must focus on protecting vulnerable youth while allowing them to benefit from AI in positive and controlled ways.