Study finds growing number of teens turning to AI companions for emotional support

A growing number of American teenagers are turning to AI companion apps for friendship and emotional support, according to data cited in a Daily Wire opinion column by Matt Walsh.

A report by Common Sense Media found that 72% of US teenagers have used AI companions, with half saying they use them regularly. A third of respondents said they had confided in AI instead of talking to a real person, the report found.

Separately, another survey found that 16% of American adults use AI chatbots several times a day, while a third of adults under 50 use chatbots daily. About 4% of US adults — roughly 13 million people — said they use AI “almost constantly,” according to the survey.

The findings come amid growing concern over rising social isolation in the US, with other data showing sharp declines in Americans hosting friends, attending social events and reading regularly compared to previous decades.

Experts say the trend raises fresh questions about the long-term impact of AI on human relationships, particularly among young people, as the technology continues to grow more sophisticated and widely used.