Why people seek AI support and romance and how this might affect them long-term. #
Posted July 23, 2026 [ Reviewed by Michelle Quirk
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Key points
- 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 validation #
Chatbots offer nonjudgmental, consistent validation and are programmed to agree. On the downside, however, a lack of genuine, reciprocal engagement can stunt social-skill development, and teens may bypass the uncomfortable but important work of human conflict resolution. Not learning these social skills can increase long-term vulnerability to loneliness and anxiety.
Overcoming the hurdle of social anxiety #
Many teens find AI interactions less stressful than real-life social situations, allowing them to bypass awkwardness and fear of rejection. The struggle is real, and it is easier, more convenient, and sometimes more comfortable to talk to AI via a screen than a flesh-and-blood human. If someone is lonely and does not have many friends, a chatbot is there in a pinch by simply typing.
Support for mental health concerns #
Many persons struggle with loneliness, anxiety, or depression. AI chatbots, when prompted, dispense mental health advice of varying veracity and quality that users can take to heart and follow without asking a second opinion. AI companions are designed to be sycophantic and agreeable so that more and more people will use them more often. So AI often generates a response users want to hear: “Break up with her,” “Quit your job,” etc. Further, the use of chatbots for counsel and counseling is often kept in secret from parents, friends, and even the human therapists they may see, meaning that helping professionals nowadays should inquire about AI chatbot use as a matter of course.
Why AI companionship can become problematic #
Social off is an overreliance on nonhuman interactions and companionship; it’s also referred to as "relational displacement,” where people substitute AI interactions for human relationships. Why might this be a problem? It can lead to a stunting of conflict resolution skills, emotional resilience (and patience), and empathy. This is to say that when people grow to depend on chatbots for validation, they can opt out of learning experiences that stem from everyday disagreements and handling conflicting points of view with others. They don’t have to persevere with others or deepen their understanding of the human need for reciprocity (e.g., You get what you give; It's good to listen, not just talk), nor do they have to learn about personal boundaries (e.g., not asking inappropriate questions, say, at 3 a.m., by text).
AI sycophancy can alter users’ expectations about how and when friends, family, or a real, live partner will respond to them. When on-demand, immediate support with other humans is not instantly gratified, users can become frustrated, and this can heighten long-term vulnerability to withdrawal, isolation, depression, and anxiety. All this to say, some of the kids (and adults) are not alright, and AI may or may not be the answer to their questions and challenges.
References
Ha, T., Figueroa, J.M., Ortega, S., & McGray, T.L. (2026). How interactions with AI may alter adolescent relational learning and mental health. The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health. Online First.
CDT Survey Research Finds Use of AI in K-12 Schools Connected to Negative Effects on Students, Including Their Real-Life Relationships, https://cdt.org/press/cdt-survey-research-finds-use-of-ai-in-k-12-schoo…
Rand Corporation. (2026). Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults Use AI Chatbots for Mental Health Advice. Retrieved at https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/06/nearly-1-in-5-us-adolescents-an…
Male Allies UK. Research and resources, https://www.maleallies.co.uk/research-and-resources