Research is finding that teens are using AI chatbots as romantic partners and/or emotional supports.

One in five adolescents report forming emotional or romantic bonds with AI companions.

Overreliance on nonhuman interactions can stunt development of empathy, boundaries, and conflict management.

Recent studies speak to a trend: Teens are using artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots as romantic partners and/or emotional supports (Ha and colleagues, 2026). Research finds that up to one in five adolescents report forming emotional or romantic bonds with AI companions. For example, a study published in the Journal of Adolescence found that 60 percent of U.S. teens have used AI chatbots, with more than 11 percent using them daily.

A study conducted by Male Allies UK highlighted that roughly 20 percent of boys aged 12 to 16 know a peer “dating” an AI chatbot, and more than a quarter prefer AI companionship over real-life relationships. Further, the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) noted that one in five high schoolers report a personal or romantic relationship with AI, and 42 percent use AI for companionship or to support mental well-being. Why choose AI companions?

There’s nothing like constant........

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