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What Teens Are Doing With Those Role-Playing Chatbots - The New York Times

1 in 11 teens are using Character.AI. Here's what experts say about the friendship risk.

Reporting by Reuters Technology 1 min brief
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The KeyNews take

Why it matters

Teen adoption of AI chatbots is accelerating faster than regulation or parental awareness. With nearly a third of child users viewing chatbots as friends, this represents a critical inflection point for how the next generation relates to AI—and a potential market opportunity or liability for platforms.

The key facts

5 to know

  1. 1 in 11 U.S. teens have chatted with Character.AI

  2. At least 50% of U.S. teens use chatbots for homework

  3. Nearly 33% of children who use AI chatbots consider them like a friend

  4. Expert concerns raised about parasocial relationships with AI

  5. Published April 4, 2026 — emerging behavioral trend in teen AI adoption

Go to the source

Reuters Technologynews.google.com

Publisher excerpt: What Teens Are Doing With Those Role-Playing Chatbots The New York Times Pew: One in 11 teens chatted with Character. AI, experts warn NewsBytes Teens are acting in utterly weird ways with their AI friends Digital Trends At least half of U.S. teens use chatbots for homework and more Science News…
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