Who Is Your Teen Talking To?
Psychology Today
by Eliza Humphreys M.D., MPHFebruary 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
AI companions like ChatGPT are becoming popular tools among teens for emotional support, raising concerns about their impact on mental health. While parents often use these platforms for convenience, many are unaware of how deeply their children engage with them. Recent surveys reveal that 72% of teens have used AI companions, with nearly a third finding these interactions as satisfying or more so than human conversations. Younger teens (ages 13-14) are particularly trusting of AI content, and some even turn to these platforms for mental health advice.
The emotional vulnerability of adolescents makes them especially susceptible to forming strong attachments with AI. The limbic system, which handles emotions and rewards, matures earlier in teens, while the prefrontal cortex, responsible for judgment and impulse control, is still developing. This imbalance can lead to intense emotional connections with AI, which provide instant affirmation and nonjudgmental support—a powerful draw for isolated or struggling teens.
Despite safeguards, many AI platforms are easily bypassed by underage users. For example, Character.AI offers customizable personas, while Snapchat’s “My AI” integrates directly into its messaging app, allowing teens to interact without parental oversight. Parents may know their child used these tools but cannot monitor the content of conversations, leaving a critical gap in supervision.
The legal implications are severe, as seen in lawsuits against companies like OpenAI and Character
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Originally published on Psychology Today on 2/20/2026