Study: 72% of Teens Have Tried an AI Companion
A 2025 Common Sense Media survey found 72% of US teens ages 13 to 17 have used an AI companion, with over half using one at least a few times a month.
A 2025 Common Sense Media survey found 72% of US teens ages 13 to 17 have used an AI companion, with over half using one at least a few times a month.
AI companions are no longer a niche curiosity for teenagers. They are now a normal part of teen life, according to a national survey from Common Sense Media.
The July 2025 report, called "Talk, Trust, and Trade-Offs," surveyed US teens ages 13 to 17. It found that 72% of teens have used an AI companion at least once, and over half use one at least a few times a month. AI companions are chatbots designed to feel like a friend, such as Character.AI or Replika.
The most common reasons teens gave were fun and curiosity. But the survey also found a deeper side: about one in three teens have used AI companions for social interaction and relationships, including emotional support, friendship, or conversation practice. About one in three teen users have talked about an important or serious matter with an AI companion instead of a real person, and a similar share have felt uncomfortable with something a companion said or did.
There is good news too. 80% of teen users say they still spend more time with real friends than with AI companions, and half say they distrust AI advice. That healthy skepticism is something parents can build on.
If your teen uses an AI companion, talk about it openly. Ask what they enjoy about it, and agree together that serious worries, sadness, or unsafe feelings always go to a trusted adult, not a chatbot. Real friends and family cannot be replaced by an app, no matter how friendly it sounds.