The data reveals massive penetration among youth—and troubling trust dynamics that have regulators scrambling to respond.
Teen Adoption (Common Sense Media, April-May 2025)
- 72% of US teens have used AI companions at least once
- 52% are regular users (few times/month+)
- 13% interact daily
- 21% engage a few times weekly
Usage Purposes
- Social/relational purposes: 33%
- Entertainment: 30%
- Curiosity: 28%
Trust Dynamics
- 31% find AI conversations as or more satisfying than human
- 50% distrust AI information/advice
- But 23% of those who trust AI companions trust them “completely”
- Younger teens (13-14) more trusting than older teens (15-17)
Safety Signals
- 33% report AI companions did or said something that made them uncomfortable
- 24% admitted sharing personal information (names, locations)
Adult Demographics
- Average AI companion user: approximately 25-28 years old
- 60-70% under age 30 across major platforms
- Replika skews male (65-72%) and older
Regional Distribution
- North America: 34-41% market share
- Asia-Pacific: 23-32% (fastest growing at 28.78% CAGR)
- Top download countries: US (16%), Philippines (11%), Brazil (10%), Indonesia (8%), Mexico (7%)
Strategic implication: If minors are core users, regulation is not optional risk. It becomes existential.
This is part of a comprehensive analysis. Read the full analysis on The Business Engineer.
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