Survey data from the United States has found that approximately 72% of US teenagers have tried an AI companion app or chatbot — a figure that has accelerated the urgency of the regulatory attention now being paid to the category. For ai girlfriend South Africa users and parents thinking about the companion app category and younger users, this data point is important context for understanding why regulation is moving as fast as it is and what the specific risks for teen users the industry and regulators are trying to address.
- A US survey found approximately 72% of US teenagers have tried an AI companion or chatbot.
- Teen use of companion apps is far more widespread than most adults and regulators previously understood.
- The survey data contributed directly to the speed of legislative action in California and other US states.
- Teen use of romantic companion apps specifically is prohibited by the terms of every legitimate platform in this category.
- The data shows the gap between terms-of-service restrictions and actual usage patterns.
What the Survey Data Shows
The survey data, reported in 2025, found that 72% of US teenagers had used some form of AI companion or chatbot — not necessarily a romantic companion platform specifically, but including the full spectrum of AI character and companion interactions. The broader figure includes general-purpose chatbots used for homework and entertainment alongside dedicated companion apps. The subset using specifically romantic companion apps is smaller but still significant. The data shows clearly that teens are encountering and using these technologies at high rates regardless of the 18+ terms that companion platforms apply. Terms-of-service age restrictions, enforced only by self-reported checkboxes, are insufficient to prevent the widespread teen access the survey data documents. Source: Yahoo News / original research. Read our age restriction guide at AdultuTopia.
What This Means for Platform Regulation
The 72% figure was cited in testimony and advocacy that contributed to California’s AI companion legislation and the FTC’s decision to launch its inquiry. It demonstrates the gap between “we require users to be 18” and “users under 18 are not using our platform” — a gap that exists across Character.AI, Replika, Nomi AI, Kindroid, Candy AI, CrushOn.AI, Anima, Paradot, Dopple.ai, SpicyChat AI, and Janitor AI alike. The regulatory direction — requiring technical age verification rather than self-reporting — is a direct response to this data. For ai girlfriend South Africa users, the context is that the safety improvements being implemented across the category in response to this data ultimately improve the product quality and trustworthiness for adult users as well. Read our full regulatory guide at AdultuTopia.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it true that 72% of US teens have tried an AI companion?
- That is the figure reported in survey data from 2025. The figure includes all forms of AI companion and chatbot interaction, not only dedicated romantic companion platforms.
- Are teens allowed to use AI girlfriend or boyfriend apps?
- No — every legitimate romantic companion platform in this category requires users to be 18 or over. Romantic and intimate AI companion features are specifically prohibited for minor users on all major platforms.
- Why doesn’t the 18+ age requirement stop teens from using these apps?
- Self-reported checkbox age verification is easily bypassed. Terms-of-service restrictions without technical enforcement create a gap between the stated policy and actual usage — which the survey data makes clear.
- What is the industry doing about teen access to companion apps?
- Platforms are implementing technical age verification, teen-specific content restrictions, break reminders, and crisis safety overlays — in part driven by the regulatory response to data like this survey.
- Are AI companion apps dangerous for adults?
- Not inherently — the risks are primarily associated with specific design patterns and with vulnerable younger users. Adult users engaging with these platforms with healthy usage practices and realistic expectations face significantly lower risk.
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