Peer Support Networks for People Cutting Back on Chatbots

Originally published July 10, 2025. Rewritten October 2026.

People who want to cut back on chatbot use have few formal places to go. No recognized treatment program exists for “AI addiction,” which is not a formal diagnosis. In the DSM-5-TR, gambling disorder is the only recognized behavioral addiction (American Psychiatric Association). So some people have started their own support groups. This page explains what those groups are, what they can and cannot do, and how to use one safely.

What Peer Groups Exist

In June 2025, 404 Media described several self-led communities. They included a Reddit group for people quitting Character.AI, which had more than 800 members at the time, and smaller groups such as r/ChatbotAddiction and r/AI_Addiction. It also noted that Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous had begun welcoming people with “AI addiction” (404 Media).

Members in those communities describe late-night chatting that cuts into sleep and work, distress when they cannot get to the bots, and repeated cycles of deleting and reinstalling apps. These are personal accounts, not research results. We found no reliable data on how fast these groups are growing or how well they work. An earlier version of this page cited a figure for growth that we could not support, so we removed it.

What a Peer Group Can Offer

• Knowing you are not the only one
• Practical tips from people who have tried to quit, such as app blockers and ways to handle urges
• A place to say “I slipped” without being laughed at
• Company at the hours when you used to chat with a bot

Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous is a free, 12-step fellowship with daily online and phone meetings and some in-person ones. Peer support has a long history in addiction recovery generally, but we have not seen studies on how well it works for chatbot use.

What It Cannot Do

A peer group is not therapy. The people there are not trained to assess you, treat depression or anxiety, or respond to a crisis. Advice from members can be wrong or may not fit you. Online groups can also be unmoderated, and what you post can be seen by strangers and may stay online.

Using a Group Safely

• Read the rules and see how moderators handle bad advice and crisis posts.
• Do not share your full name, workplace, address or photos.
• Be wary of anyone selling a program, supplement or coaching in the comments.
• Treat the group as one support among several. Keep friends, family or a professional in the picture too.
• If a group makes you feel worse or more preoccupied with chatbots, leave.

When to Add Professional Help

Consider a doctor or licensed therapist if you cannot cut back despite real costs to sleep, school, work, money or relationships, or if you feel hopeless or very anxious. Because there is no recognized specialty, look for someone who treats anxiety, depression, compulsive behavior or loneliness, and ask how they would approach it. The National Institute of Mental Health suggests asking about credentials and experience (NIMH).

• Psychology Today therapist directory
• SAMHSA’s FindTreatment.gov and National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357

If you are in crisis. Call or text 988 in the US (988 Lifeline), or text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). In an emergency, call 911. A peer forum is not a crisis service.

Are peer groups a substitute for treatment?

No. They can add support, but they are not led by clinicians and cannot assess or treat a mental health condition. If your use is causing serious problems, see a licensed professional as well.

Do these groups cost money?

Reddit groups are free. Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous says it is free to everyone who needs it. Be cautious about any group that asks for payment.

What if I relapse in a recovery group?

Many members post about slips. Sharing what happened, and what you were feeling at the time, is often what helps most. A relapse does not cancel your progress.

This page is for education only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan.