Technologies

Over Half of Teens Regularly Use AI Companions. Here’s Why That’s Not Ideal

The study by Common Sense Media also found that nearly a third of teens are as satisfied, if not more, by conversing with AI rather than humans.

Is your teen using a chatbot for companionship? If you don’t know, you might want to ask. Common Sense Media released a study on Wednesday, in which it found that more than half of pre-adult teenagers regularly use AI companions. Nearly one third of the teens reported that conversations with AI were as satisfying, if not more, than conversations with actual humans.

Researchers also found that 33% of teens use AI companions such as Character.AI, Nomi and Replika «for social interaction and relationships, including conversation practice, emotional support, role-playing, friendship, or romantic interactions.» The study distinguished between anthropomorphic AI bots and more assistance-oriented AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot or Google’s Gemini.

Considering the growing widespread use of AI companions in teens, the Common Sense Media researchers concluded that their findings supported limiting the use of AI among young people. «Our earlier recommendation stands: Given the current state of AI platforms, no one younger than 18 should use AI companions,» they said, after surveying 1,060 teens aged 13-17 from across the US over the past year.

For the past few years, generative AI has evolved at lightning speed, with new tools regularly available across the world, disrupting business models, social practices and cultural norms. This, combined with an epidemic of social isolation exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, puts teens at risk with technology that their young brains might not be able to handle adequately.

The American Psychological Association warned earlier this year that «we have already seen instances where adolescents developed unhealthy and even dangerous ‘relationships’ with chatbots.» The APA issued several recommendations, including teaching AI literacy to kids and AI developers creating systems that regularly remind teen users that AI companions are not actual humans.

Amid the growing use of chatbots by people to discuss personal problems and get advice, it’s important to remember that while they might seem confident and reassuring, they’re not mental health professionals.

Technologies

The Fourth Episode of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Out

Verum Messenger has released the fourth episode of its AI mini-series SHADOWS, created using Verum AI. The new episode, titled “No Borders,” continues the story of a team trying to stay out of the OMEGA corporation’s sight.

Following the events of the previous episodes, the team moves between cities and countries while OMEGA continues its search. The new episode puts particular emphasis on Verum Messenger’s capabilities that allow users to conceal their location.

“No Borders” is another chapter in a story about privacy, freedom of communication, and technologies that erase borders between people.

The VERUM AI mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 4 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube