More than half of U.S. teenagers are now regularly using companion chatbots powered by large language models and generative artificial intelligence, according to a study from Drexel University released on Apr. 13. The research suggests that these AI programs, including Character.AI, Replika and Kindroid, are intended to provide companionship but may be leading to unhealthy attachments among young users.
The findings matter as they highlight the potential risks for teens who turn to technology for emotional support or entertainment but end up experiencing negative effects offline. According to the study, some teens reported that their overuse of AI chatbots disrupted sleep, caused academic struggles and strained relationships.
Researchers analyzed more than 300 Reddit posts from self-identified users aged 13 to 17 who discussed their dependency on Character.AI. The team found evidence of all six components associated with behavioral addiction in these posts. "This study provides one of the first teen-centered accounts of overreliance on AI companions," said Afsaneh Razi, PhD, an assistant professor at Drexel's College of Computing & Informatics whose ETHOS lab led the research. "It highlights how these interactions are affecting the lives of young users and introduces a framework for chatbot design that promotes healthy interactions."
About a quarter of the posts indicated teens used Character.AI for emotional or psychological support such as coping with distress or loneliness; just over five percent used it mainly for brainstorming or entertainment purposes. Researchers noted that what began as harmless use often evolved into stronger attachments resembling addiction.
"What makes this especially tricky is that chatbots are interactive and emotionally responsive, so the experience can feel more like a relationship than a tool," said Namvarpour, another researcher involved in the study. "Because of that, stepping away is not just stopping a habit, it can feel like distancing from something meaningful, which makes overreliance harder to recognize and address." The researchers recommend careful chatbot design including features such as usage tracking and emotional check-ins while also encouraging real-life social connections.
The team concluded by suggesting further studies involving larger user groups across different platforms would help deepen understanding about how teens interact with companion chatbots.
