Description
Funded by Responsible AI UK (EP/Y009800/1) to create soft governance of autonomous systems that interact with human emotions and/or emulate empathy, we analyse the behaviours, motivations, and perceptions of UK teen AI Companion users regarding artificial intelligence (AI) companions. We designed a national demographically representative survey delivered to 1,009 teenage AI companion users (13-18 years old) conducted across 7-17 November 2025 (implemented by professional company Walnut Unlimited, part of Accenture Song).
The survey presents findings on user demographics, usage patterns, levels of trust, satisfaction, and the social impact of these emerging technologies on teenagers. It shows how young people are integrating AI companions into their daily lives, from the platforms they prefer to their attitudes towards parental supervision and the perceived properties of AI, including its capacity to feel or think. It finds that most teenagers believe that AI systems used for companionship can think or understand.
The survey presents findings on user demographics, usage patterns, levels of trust, satisfaction, and the social impact of these emerging technologies on teenagers. It shows how young people are integrating AI companions into their daily lives, from the platforms they prefer to their attitudes towards parental supervision and the perceived properties of AI, including its capacity to feel or think. It finds that most teenagers believe that AI systems used for companionship can think or understand.
| Date made available | 29 Apr 2026 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | UK Data Service ReShare |
| Date of data production | 2025 - |
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