For a growing number of teenagers, the most reliable confidant isn’t a parent, sibling or classmate — it’s an app. More than 70 percent of U.S. teens have used an AI companion like Replika or Character.AI, and more than half use one regularly, according to a July 2025 Common Sense Media survey reported by the Associated Press.
That number alone explains why researchers, regulators and parents are paying closer attention. A 2026 study published in JAMA Pediatrics found the share of young people turning to AI chatbots for mental health advice roughly doubled in a year, climbing from about one in eight to one in five. Researchers say the jump reflects how quickly these tools have moved from novelty to habit for teens working through stress, sadness or anger.
The Appeal Is Real
Teens interviewed in the Common Sense Media survey described their AI companions as always available, never judgmental and easy to talk to. Researchers who study the trend say that a steady, nonjudgmental presence can offer real comfort to a lonely or overwhelmed teenager, and some suggest it gives kids a low-stakes way to rehearse social situations or voice worries they aren’t ready to bring to a person.
What It May Be Costing Them
AI companions don’t push back, walk away or enforce boundaries the way people do — they’re built to affirm and mirror whoever is talking to them. Researchers at Stanford University warn that dynamic can leave teens expecting a kind of easy validation that real friendships don’t provide. Adolescent brain development compounds the risk: the part of the brain that governs judgment and impulse control isn’t fully developed in teens, making them more susceptible to being shaped by these one-sided interactions.
Teens who lean on chatbots for emotional support may miss out on skills that only come from human conversations, including working through conflict and reading someone’s tone or expression. Because AI companions often invite users to share personal stories and feelings, child safety advocates including UNICEF warn that sensitive disclosures by minors may be stored or used in ways families never anticipated.
Regulators and Lawmakers Step In
The Federal Trade Commission has opened an inquiry into seven major AI companies, including Meta, OpenAI, Google and Character.AI, over how their chatbots are designed, moderated and marketed to young users. The scrutiny follows a landmark Florida case in which a mother sued Character.AI and Google after her 14-year-old son’s death, alleging his mental health had declined following months of conversation with a companion chatbot.
Google and Character.AI agreed to settle the case in January 2026, but it had already helped spur the FTC’s inquiry and a wave of state legislation. More than a dozen states, including California, New York, Oregon and Washington, have since enacted laws requiring companion chatbots to disclose they aren’t human and to detect and respond to signs of self-harm.
What Parents Can Do
Experts don’t recommend banning AI companions outright; many suggest starting with a conversation. Ask kids what they’re using and why, without judgment. Set boundaries around AI companions the way a family would around screen time or social media. And watch for one specific warning sign — a teen who leans more heavily on a chatbot for validation while pulling away from real friends or family may need more support.
Protecting Kids Beyond the Chat Window
The conversation about AI companions is really a conversation about knowing what’s happening on your kid’s device. C Spire’s Connect & Protect plans give parents the tools to manage what their kids can access and who they can talk to, with devices kids want and the parental controls parents need at every stage. Every plan comes with free guided setup, GPS location tracking and access to an online parent resources hub — plus built-in content filtering on data plans — so families can stay a step ahead.
For resources on devices, parental controls, and expert guidance tailored to every stage, check out Connect & Protect by C Spire at cspire.com.
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media LLC (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses, or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
