By Kerry Gallagher
We first reported on AI companions in our weekly Digital Wellness Tips in April and Common Sense Media has released new research on teen use. AI companions are artificial intelligence platforms designed to provide companionship and social relationships to users. AI companions do not merely answer questions; they have conversations that feel personal and meaningful. In our April 2025 tip we encouraged parents to help their teens become aware of AI companions when it comes to privacy and security, and we encouraged our teens to prioritize in-person relationships.
In new research we learned that use of AI companions has become mainstream for teens ages 13 to 17:
- 52% of teens use AI companions a few times per month or more
- 33% use them for social interaction such as emotional support, role-playing, friendship, or even romance
- 31% find conversations with AI companions as satisfying or more satisfying that human conversations
There is good news when it comes to teens’ AI literacy and the importance they place on human interaction:
- Less than a quarter of teens fully trust information from AI companions, and trust among older teens (15-17) is even lower than that
- 80% of teens prioritize human friendship over AI interaction
- 39% of teens use AI to help them practice social skills they then use in real life situations
These data are helping us understand that our younger children need education and awareness about AI companions’ capabilities and limitations, and that challenging human interactions are normal and worth learning to navigate. Teens will – or already – have interactions with AI companions and proactively informing, demonstrating, and building interpersonal trust can help them to understand they can come to use when questions or worries come up.