Do AI Companions Understand? Most UK Teens Say Yes

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the behaviours, motivations, and perceptions of UK teenagers regarding AI companions. Based on a national demographically representative survey of 1,009 teenage AI companion users aged 13–18, conducted 7–17 November 2025, the report synthesises findings on user demographics, usage patterns, levels of trust, satisfaction, and the social impact of AI companion technologies on young people. It examines how teenagers are integrating AI companions into daily life — from platform preferences to attitudes toward parental supervision — and their perceptions of AI’s capacity to feel or think. The central finding is that most UK teenagers believe AI systems used for companionship can think or understand. The report also addresses risks including emotional dependency, exposure to adult content, and the role of AI companions in cases of youth self-harm, situating findings within UK policy debates around child safety and AI governance.

Emotional AI Lab, Bangor University