Study Shows Teens Are Increasingly Relying on AI Chatbots for Social Interaction

Teens are increasingly using AI bots as friends or romantic partners—even finding conversations with them equally or more satisfying than real people. While there are benefits—like conversational practice and emotional support—experts caution that these bots lack genuine empathy, can mislead, and potentially foster unhealthy reliance on artificial companionship. To address this, experts advocate for parental involvement, educational guidance, tech industry safety upgrades, and policy oversight to help balance the benefits with developmental needs.

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