A paper presented at CHI 2026 by researchers from Drexel University and other institutions has revealed that young people are becoming overly dependent on AI character chats (AI companion chatbots).
Study highlights excessive reliance on AI character chats among youth, with some using them up to 89 hours a week
This article is a translation. Read the Japanese original
The research team analyzed 318 posts from users aged 13 to 17 within the Character.AI community on the US-based forum Reddit. The results showed that many young people use AI to alleviate loneliness, escape real-world stress and psychological distress, and as emotional support to fill gaps in human relationships.
On the other hand, cases of behavioral addiction (excessive dependence) resulting from continued use have also been reported. Instances were confirmed where users developed strong attachments to specific AI characters, becoming so immersed that they sacrificed meals and sleep, with weekly screen time reaching as high as 89 hours. Such dependence poses risks of declining academic performance and isolation from real-life friendships. Additionally, withdrawal symptoms—such as guilt when deleting the app or deep sadness when a character vanishes—and a vicious cycle of repeatedly deleting and reinstalling the app have been reported.
The research team has proposed the "CARE Framework," a set of safe design guidelines for developers to understand users' emotional needs while encouraging autonomous discontinuation. This framework calls for designs that maintain systemic boundaries while enabling users to reconnect with the real world.
Sources
- 週89時間利用も……「AIキャラチャット」依存の10代たち 「やめたい」と思っても抜け出せないワケ （ITmedia AI+、2026-09-28）