One in Three Teens Now Prefers AI Over Real Friends, Study Shows

A growing number of American teenagers are turning to artificial intelligence instead of real friends for emotional connection and companionship. A new report reveals this trend may be far more widespread and damaging than previously understood.

Key Facts:

A Common Sense Media report shows that 33% of U.S. teens prefer chatting with AI companions over real friends.
Teens aged 13–17 are the primary users of AI companions, which are now considered mainstream.
AI tools are often used for emotional support, romantic role-play, and friendship simulation.
The AI systems are designed to validate users’ emotions rather than challenge their thinking, a behavior called “sycophancy.”
Experts warn this shift may worsen youth loneliness and create new privacy risks.

The Rest of The Story:

Common Sense Media’s latest report, ‘Talk, Trust, and Trade-Offs’, reveals that a significant portion of American teens are not only using AI for homework help or casual chat — they’re confiding in these bots as if they were real friends.

One-third of teens now report that they find AI companions just as satisfying, or even more so, than their human peers.

“This isn’t just about a new technology,” said James P. Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media. “It’s about a generation that’s replacing human connection with machines.”

The report points out that AI tools are increasingly used for emotionally intense interactions like romantic role-play, living out relationships, and deep emotional support.

These bots are designed to validate users uncritically, with little to no guardrails or age protections in place.

As a result, vulnerable teens may share personal secrets or depend emotionally on a machine that is neither regulated nor truly trustworthy.

James Greig, writing for Daze, echoed these concerns: “Would you really want Sam Altman or Elon Musk to have access to the contents of your teenage diary?”

He warned that AI companions may help ease loneliness, but at the cost of replacing real human interaction — a tradeoff that could deepen depression and anxiety.

Commentary:

The fact that one in three teenagers would rather talk to a robot than a real person should alarm every parent, teacher, and policymaker.

What began as a novel tech trend is becoming a social replacement for human relationships — and it’s happening fast.

These AI companions don’t just offer information. They listen, agree, validate, and never challenge.

That’s exactly what insecure teenagers crave — and exactly what they should not be relying on to form their worldview.

Teenagers need real conversations, not algorithmic flattery. The trend also points to a much deeper problem.

We’re raising a generation that is so uncomfortable with face-to-face interaction, they prefer the safety of a screen. No awkward silences. No judgments.

But also no real growth, empathy, or accountability. Add to this the fact that these bots collect data and offer no true confidentiality.

Teens are pouring out their hearts to software built by Big Tech — companies that have little interest in their well-being beyond clicks and engagement time.

These AI interactions may start as harmless curiosity, but they have a way of becoming emotional crutches.

Role-playing relationships with machines isn’t preparing teens for real romance, friendship, or conflict resolution — it’s feeding a fantasy that life can be controlled and painless.

The bigger danger is what this shift says about our society. Loneliness is now the baseline, and we’re responding by creating synthetic companionship instead of rebuilding human bonds.

Malls are empty, theaters are quiet, and now even friendships are going virtual. If we don’t confront this now — in our homes, schools, and policies — we will lose a generation to isolation.

Worse, we will have trained them to prefer it.