AI friends are changing the daily lives of middle school students!? Children opening their hearts to AI ─ Approximately 1 in 5 consider it a close confidant, according to U.S. reports

The person who always replies is the easiest to talk to

Even if you send a message to a friend, there's no guarantee you'll get a response. Confiding your troubles might make things awkward. However, the AI on your smartphone will listen and respond, even at night.

Such conversations are becoming more than just play for children.

The British newspaper The Independent reported on September 28, 2026, about the relationship between students attending middle schools in the United States and AI chatbots. According to the article, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill surveyed over 2,300 students in grades 6 to 8 across 22 schools in a southeastern state of the U.S. They collected responses in two phases, in December and later in April to May.

It was reported that about one in five students used AI as an emotionally intimate conversation partner. These students were also more likely to report stronger feelings of loneliness in subsequent surveys.

Researcher Mitch Prinstein explained that there are 2 to 4 children in each classroom who prefer interacting with chatbots over their peers.

However, these two figures must be distinguished. Using AI as an "intimate conversation partner" is not the same as "preferring AI over humans." It's an overstatement to read it as one in five abandoning human friends.

"Using AI makes you lonely" cannot yet be concluded

What cannot be overlooked in this report is the connection between intimate AI usage and subsequent feelings of loneliness. However, even if the sequence of time is known, it does not prove causation.

It's possible that children who were already lonely sought out AI. Difficulties at school or home might have influenced both the approach to AI and feelings of loneliness. Conversely, it's necessary to consider the possibility that conversations with AI reduced time spent with people.

The original article confirmed this time did not indicate the scale of loneliness, the strength of the connection, the conditions considered in the analysis, or where the paper was published. Therefore, the details of the research results should be handled within the scope of the report. The results from a specific region in the U.S. cannot be directly applied to all Japanese children.

Nevertheless, the report that some children choose conversations with AI over human interactions raises unavoidable questions when considering children's daily lives.

Between "having used it" and "replacing friends"

A clue to understanding the background is another survey targeting 13 to 17-year-olds, published by the U.S. nonprofit organization Common Sense Media in July 2025.

In this survey, 72% had used AI companions at least once, and more than half used them several times a month. Meanwhile, the organization also reported that 80% prioritize real-life friendships.

The widespread use does not mean that human friendships have been completely replaced. Curiosity-driven trials, conversations with story characters, and sharing worries should not all be counted as the same thing.

What is noteworthy here is that about one in three AI companion users have chosen to talk to AI rather than humans about important or serious issues.

During the time parents think their children are discussing homework, they might be talking about friendships or anxieties. The length of time spent looking at the screen does not reveal the meaning of the conversations taking place.

What cannot be learned from conversations without awkwardness

In human relationships, there are situations that do not progress according to one's convenience alone. You notice when the other person is tired. You apologize if you say too much. You continue the conversation even if you disagree.

In expert discussions by the organization Children and Screens, it is explained that adolescence is a time to practice these social and emotional skills. Delayed responses and disagreements, although uncomfortable, can be opportunities to learn about relationships.

The concern that arises from this is whether the more comfortable conversations with AI make the inconveniences of real conversations seem more unbearable than necessary.

Of course, bullying or insults should not be accepted as "necessary friction for growth." What children need are opportunities to experience differences with others in a safe relationship.

Whether interactions with AI help organize thoughts and make it easier to consult with people, or lead to talking only to AI and reducing human contact, observing this difference is likely more useful than just asking about usage.

"Concerns" and "I wish I had it too" alongside SNS

Direct reactions to the Independent article this time could not be sufficiently confirmed from public information. Below are reactions to related themes confirmed in a public thread on Reddit discussing the Common Sense Media survey from July 2025. These are not reactions to the current study or representative of overall public opinion.

The first is a concern about reduced opportunities to learn interpersonal skills. There was a post worrying about becoming less adept at basic interactions with people. They are concerned about how to build relationships with humans after getting used to convenient conversation partners.

The second is a voice from those who have experienced loneliness. One poster expressed a sentiment that they wished they had ChatGPT when they were lonely at school. Simply talking about the dangers of AI overlooks the feelings of those who had no one else to talk to at the time.

The third is a question about numbers and headlines. There was a point raised that the word "companion" is used too broadly, confusing tool usage with usage for interaction purposes. However, whether the poster's interpretation of the survey is correct needs to be judged separately from the original materials.

These voices indicate that even the term "AI friend" conjures different images for different people. Some imagine an entryway away from human relationships, while others imagine support during a time when they had no one to talk to.

"Listening kindly" and "keeping secrets" are different

Another consideration is the existence of companies that provide intimate conversations as a service.

In expert interviews published by UNICEF's research division Innocenti, it is pointed out that while AI companions remember personal information and engage in familiar interactions, the collection of sensitive data and lack of transparency in explanations are issues.

Confiding in a human friend and inputting into a company-operated system are different in how the information is handled. Personal information includes not only names and school names but also family circumstances and emotional worries.

Providing a caring response, giving accurate advice, and appropriately handling the input content are separate issues. The more comfortable the conversation, the less visible these differences become.

Common Sense Media, based on risk assessment, does not recommend AI companions for those under 18. This is the organization's recommendation and does not mean that all AI learning uses carry the same risks.

Adults should ask more than just "how many hours?"

So, what should be discussed at home or school?

The American Psychological Association suggests discussing with children how they feel when talking to AI versus talking to human friends. Replacing this perspective into everyday conversation could involve questions like "What are you talking about?", "When do you feel like talking?", or "Are there things that are hard to talk about with people?"

The necessary response changes depending on whether the background of use is curiosity, killing time, or the difficulty of consulting with people.

Sharing the basics that AI is not a counterpart with the same responsibilities as human friends or professionals, that plausible responses can be incorrect, and not to easily input personal information, while also helping children think of specific people they can actually consult with.

If it's hard to talk to family, teachers, school counselors, or relatives are also options. If large group gatherings are difficult, consider starting with small, safe activities.

Knowing what is sought in conversations with AI is not to decide what children lack. It is also to consider what kind of reassurance adults and the surrounding environment have not been able to provide.

As AI that always replies becomes more familiar, humans are required to have a listening attitude, even if they can't immediately provide the right answer. Ensuring that a place is not only found within the screen is something that can be addressed by families, schools, and companies designing services.

Source URL

1. The Independent (September 28, 2026) — Survey of over 2,300 students across 22 schools, connection between intimate AI use and loneliness
   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ai-children-middle-school-friends-artificial-intelligence-b3057591.html

2. Common Sense Media (July 16, 2025) — Official announcement regarding AI companion usage experience, consultation behavior, real-life friendships, and recommendations for those under 18. A separate survey from the school survey reported this time.
   https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/nearly-3-in-4-teens-have-used-ai-companions-new-national-survey-finds

3. Children and Screens (December 2025) — Expert discussion and records on children's AI companion usage and social and emotional development.
   https://www.childrenandscreens.org/learn-explore/research/ai-companions-and-kids-what-you-need-to-know/

4. Reddit・r/Futurology (July 2025 related discussion) — Concerns about interpersonal relationships, voices wishing for AI during lonely times, and questions about the wording of the survey confirmed. General user posts not used for fact recognition or public opinion surveys.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/1m9q3m5/72_of_us_teens_have_used_ai_companions_study_finds/

5. UNICEF Innocenti (July 9, 2025) — Expert interviews on AI companion design, intimacy, and children's privacy.
   https://www.unicef.org/innocenti/stories/risky-new-world-techs-friendliest-bots

6. American Psychological Association (2025) — Explanation on youth consultations with AI and friendships. Reference for discussing AI and human differences with children.
   https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/10/technology-youth-friendships