Teens Growing Attachment to Chatbots Sparks Concerns

Teens growing attachment to chatbots sparks concerns

Medical Watch Digest for April 13 Teens growing attachment to chatbots There are major concerns about teens and chatbots. Teenagers themselves are sounding the alarm about feelings of addiction and inability to stop communicating with companion chatbots. Drexel University researchers studied teens ages 13-17 who use Character.ai, Replika and Kindroid for companionship. Estimates reveal more [...]

Teens are becoming concerned about their attachment to AI chatbots

It's estimated that more than half of all U.S. teens are regularly using companion chatbots powered by large language models and generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The programs, such as Character.AI, Replika and Kindroid, are intended to provide companionship, according to the companies that make them. But a recent study from Drexel University published in the Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing …

Rising dependence on AI chatbots sparks concern among teens

More teens are turning to AI companions for comfort, distraction, and a sense of connection. For some, that comfort seems to be hardening into something more troubling. A new Drexel University study, based on 318 Reddit posts from users who identified themselves as 13 to 17 years old, found repeated signs that some teens using Character.AI were struggling to pull away. In post after post, they described a pattern that started with boredom, lonel…

Teens Growing Increasingly Concerned About Their Bond with AI Chatbots

In recent years, the rapid advancement and widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), especially large language models and generative AI technologies, have led to the emergence of AI companion chatbots as a popular tool among teenagers. Platforms such as Character.AI, Replika, and Kindroid offer conversational agents designed to simulate companionship and provide emotional support. While these AI companions are marketed as beneficial t…

Teens Struggle to Break Up with Their AI Chatbots

A new study finds that teens are developing behavioral addictions to AI chatbots like Character.AI. Researchers call for new design frameworks to prevent unhealthy attachments and protect young users.