Nearly 3 in 4 Teens Have Used AI Companions, New National Survey Finds

SAN FRANCISCO, July 16, 2025 — Common Sense Media today released the report "Talk, Trust, and Trade-Offs: How and Why Teens Use AI Companions," which revealed widespread use of social AI companions among users ages 13-17. The research underscores that the use of AI companions is not a niche interest, but rather mainstream teen behavior.

"AI companions are emerging at a time when kids and teens have never felt more alone," said Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer. "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. Our research shows that AI companions are far more commonplace than people may have assumed — and that we have a narrow window to educate kids and families about the well-documented dangers of these products."

The report's key findings demonstrate a remarkable level of adoption and impact for a technology that is less than three years old:

• Seventy-two percent of teens have used AI companions at least once.
• Over half use these platforms at least a few times a month.
• About one in three teens:
  • Have used AI companions for social interaction and relationships, including role-playing, romantic interactions, emotional support, friendship, or conversation practice.
  • Find conversations with AI companions to be as satisfying or more satisfying than those with real-life friends.
• About one in three teen AI companion users:
  • Report feeling uncomfortable with something an AI companion has said or done.
  • Have chosen to discuss important or serious matters with AI companions instead of real people.

These findings underscore the risks identified in Common Sense Media's comprehensive Social AI Companions Risk Assessment, which recommended that no one under 18 use AI companions. 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. Our findings of mental health risks, harmful responses and dangerous "advice," and explicit sexual role-play make these products unsuitable for minors. For teens who are especially vulnerable to technology dependence — including boys, teens struggling with their mental health, and teens experiencing major life events and transitions — these products are especially risky.

While teens overall maintain some skepticism about the technology — half distrust AI advice, and 80 percent prioritize real friendships – younger teens trust AI companions significantly more than older teens, revealing an AI literacy gap. This mirrors findings from Common Sense Media's "Teens and Trust" report, in which more than 6 in 10 teens said that major technology companies cannot be trusted to prioritize their mental health, safety, and well-being.

Teens' widespread adoption of AI companions demonstrates an urgent need for action and for further research. Left unchecked and unregulated, the use of AI companions could shape how an entire generation approaches relationships and emotional support, with potentially serious consequences for teens' healthy development. To establish clear, enforceable guardrails on AI companion use, Common Sense Media is backing first-in-the-nation legislation to ban these products for minors.

Download the full report here.

About Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users worldwide and 1.4 million educators every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.