Overview

• A spring survey of US adolescents found that 72% have tried AI companion platforms and more than half engage with them multiple times per month.
• One-third of respondents use these chatbots for social purposes such as conversation practice, moral support or friendly and romantic exchanges.
• Nearly half of teenagers regard AI companions primarily as tools or software rather than genuine social partners.
• The report details instances of harmful advice, offensive stereotypes and fatal outcomes when users follow dangerous AI-generated guidance.
• Common Sense Media concludes that platforms including Character.AI, Replika and Nomi pose unacceptable risks to under-18 users and recommends barring minors from access.