This page presents data on AI companion app use among young people, anchored on Common Sense Media’s 2025 nationally representative survey of 1,060 U.S. teens (ages 13–17), with engagement data from Andreessen Horowitz and reporting from TechCrunch, Axios, and CBS News. We present this topic factually, including documented safety concerns, without sensationalizing.
The AI Behavior Index is the research arm of OneChat AI, an integrated multi-model AI platform. We compile and analyze data from primary research sources to make AI adoption and market trends more accessible to journalists, researchers, and decision-makers.
A note on age scope and safety: the strongest companion-app data covers teens 13–17, which overlaps with but is younger than the 18–25 core of Gen Z — we label this throughout, since adult-companion-user data (e.g. Replika’s older skew) is patchier. This is also a documented child-safety topic: we report the benefits teens describe and the risks researchers have found, and we relay Common Sense Media’s recommendation against minor use rather than editorializing around it.
Methodology notes: figures are from Common Sense Media’s probability-based teen survey (1,060 respondents, 13–17) and are multiple-select where noted. The definition of “AI companion” is broad — it includes purpose-built apps (Character.AI, Replika) and general tools (ChatGPT) used for companionship — so figures capture a usage pattern, not a single app category. The 10x engagement figure is from a16z product data. This data describes teens, not all of Gen Z; adult (18–25) companion-specific data is more limited.
Sources used on this page:
- Common Sense Media — Talk, Trust, and Trade-Offs 2025 (adoption; motivations)
- TechCrunch — 72% of US Teens Have Used AI Companions 2025 (use reasons)
- Axios / a16z — Companion Apps Engagement 2025 (10x sessions)
- CBS News — Teens and AI Friendship 2025 (satisfaction; risk picture)
Corrections or suggestions: research@aibehaviorindex.org