News / / Updated / By the editorial team
Study: 72% of US Teens Have Used AI Companions, 52% Are Regular Users
Information only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. In a crisis in the US, call or text 988.
A July 2025 Common Sense Media survey asked US teens how often they use AI companions and why. This page covers the “how often” part: what “regular user” means, who uses AI companions most, and what teens say they get from them. For a fuller write-up of the survey, see our main page on the 72% finding.
About the Survey
The nonprofit Common Sense Media published “Talk, Trust, and Trade-Offs” on July 16, 2025. NORC at the University of Chicago surveyed 1,060 teens aged 13 to 17 between April 30 and May 14, 2025. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2 points (Common Sense Media report). Teens were asked about “AI companions,” meaning apps built to feel like a friend or character you can talk to, such as Character.AI and Replika.
What “Regular User” Means
The headline says 72% of teens have used an AI companion, and 52% are “regular users.” The report defines regular use as a few times a month or more. That is a low bar, so “regular” does not mean heavy.
The report’s breakdown of all teens surveyed:
- 13% use them daily: 8% several times a day and 5% about once a day
- 21% use them a few times a week, the most common pattern
- 28% have never used one
Some coverage gets this wrong. The 13% and 21% are shares of all teens surveyed, not of regular users only.
Why Teens Use Them
Among teens who use AI companions, the main reasons were:
- It’s entertaining: 30%
- Curiosity about the technology: 28%
- Getting advice: 18%
- Being available when needed: 17%
- Not being judged: 14%
- Being able to say things they would not tell friends or family: 12%
Boys were more likely than girls to say entertainment was the reason (37% vs. 24%). So for most teens in this survey, the draw is fun and curiosity. Emotional reasons are a minority, but a real one.
Human Friends Still Come First
When asked to compare time spent, 80% of users said they spend more time with real friends than with AI companions, and 6% said the reverse. The survey cannot show whether the 6% are lonely, or what changes over months.
What the Survey Cannot Tell Us
It is a one-time snapshot of what teens said. It does not measure addiction, and it does not show harm or benefit. Whether regular use becomes a problem depends on what else is happening in a teen’s life: sleep, school, friends and mood.
What helps is the same as for any habit. Ask a teen what they like about it, notice changes in sleep or friendships, and see a doctor if use cannot be moderated, as child psychiatrists advise (AACAP). Common Sense Media itself recommends that nobody under 18 use AI companions.
Free support exists for teens in distress: call or text 988 (988 Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line), US only. Emergencies: 911.
What counts as a regular user in the survey?
A teen who uses an AI companion at least a few times a month. It does not mean daily or heavy use. About 13% of all teens surveyed said they use one daily.
Do most teens use AI companions for emotional support?
No. Most users named entertainment or curiosity. About 12% of all teens said they use them for emotional or mental health support, and 33% of all teens used them for social interaction and relationships, including role-play and conversation practice.
Education only, not medical advice.