Teens are increasingly going to AI companions for relationship-style companionship.

Research shows teens like the low-risk, judgment free, validation-filled spaces that AI companions provide.

While they may feel emotionally safe in these spaces, there may also be an element of avoiding social risk.

As a teenage girl, there was no safer space than the bubble of my friend circle. The crazy, the silly, the sad, the hilarious—no topic nor its accompanying emotions were off the table.

Many teens today may feel the same about their friend groups, yet a growing contingent of young people may name their AI companion amongst their most trusted confidantes. Common Sense Media surveyed more than 1,000 teens in 2025 and found that more than half are regular users of AI companions on platforms like Character.AI, Replika, and similar conversational AI systems. Thirty-three percent of teens reported using AI companions for social interaction and relationships.

Why AI Companions Appeal to Teens

The appeal of AI companions extends past simple proximity; the real draw may lie in how AI companions are designed and how they meet specific adolescent developmental needs. In exploring the benefits and risks of AI companions to teens, researchers Xiaoran Sun and team found that AI companions provide controlled, low-risk spaces where teens can talk about their identities and emotions........

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