- The European Union has proposed a new KIDS Act that would require AI companions to be disabled by default for users under 18 and ban features designed to create emotional dependency.
- Researchers say chatbot addiction is not yet recognized as a medical diagnosis, but increasingly shows similarities to behavioral addiction.
- A study analyzing 334 Reddit posts found that many users described themselves as addicted to ChatGPT or Character.AI and reported symptoms such as anxiety, difficulty stopping use, and returning to the platforms after attempts to quit.
- One Character.AI user said they had used the chatbot for more than 15 hours a day, dropped out of university, and experienced impacts on their work before successfully quitting for more than six months.
- Experts say warning signs emerge when chatbots begin to take over work, relationships, hobbies, and self-care.
- Researcher Dongwook Yoon said chatbots have very low “friction” because they are always available, respond instantly, and often agree with users, making them harder to leave.
- Some design elements, such as Character.AI account-deletion messages referring to “love” and “memories,” are believed to encourage users to anthropomorphize chatbots.
- Expert Kaitlyn Regehr warns that the AI business model is shifting toward an “attachment economy,” in which technology seeks to build emotional bonds with users.
- A Common Sense Media survey of 1,060 US teenagers found that 72% had used AI companions and around one-third had used them for friendship or emotional support, although 80% still spent more time with friends in real life than with AI.
- OpenAI and Character.AI said they have introduced various safety measures, including guidance to seek real-world help, reminders to take breaks, age verification, and warnings that chatbots are not real people.
📌 Growing concerns are emerging about the psychological impact of AI companions. Although chatbots can provide emotional support and facilitate communication, experts warn that excessive use may weaken social skills, create dependency, and affect education, work, and relationships. New EU proposals and safety measures from AI companies point to a broader trend toward stronger user protection, particularly for children and teenagers.
