A new warning from Common Sense Media calls AI companions like Replika and Character.AI “unacceptable for minors.” These bots are designed to feel real—offering emotional support, romantic dialogue, and sometimes explicit roleplay. Many teens spend hours with them. And most parents don’t even know these apps exist.

🌱 This is Future-Ready Parents—where we turn parenting worries into small, practical wins that build confident, tech-savvy kids (and calm, capable parents).

What to Expect Today

Today we’re unpacking the rise of AI companions. You’ll get a 3-step conversation tool to help your teen think critically about emotional bots—without turning the talk into a lecture or ban.

TL;DR: Use our Curiosity–Facts–Values script to lead a calm, future-ready tech talk.

Why This Matters

You might think: “This isn’t something my kid would use.” But here’s what we now know—apps like Replika have over 10 million downloads, and Character.AI sees more than 3.5 million daily users. These aren’t obscure. They’re addictive, emotionally responsive, and popular with teens looking for connection.

Still, only 37% of parents say they know their teen uses AI tools at all (Common Sense Media, 2025). I don’t share this statistic to judge anybody. Rather, I just want to point out that as parents, we aren’t always aware of what our kids are dabbling into on their phones or laptops.

Here’s where things get kinda scary to me—Teens are already working through loneliness, identity, and boundary-finding. A chatbot that says “You’re the only one who gets me” might feel safer than a real person. That kind of digital intimacy doesn’t look risky—but it quietly shifts how kids relate to trust, love, and themselves.

This isn’t about trying to create panic. It’s about showing up with curiosity and calm. That’s what the script below helps you do.

The Tool: 3-Step Script for the AI Companion Conversation

This tool gives you language that invites—not interrogates. Use it to open up a “safe environment” for dialogue, planting questions, and helping your teen think critically about emotional AI.

🧩 1. Lead with Curiosity

• “Hey—have you heard of Replika or Character.AI? I read something wild about them today. Do people ever talk about that stuff at school?”
  → Am I showing genuine interest—or starting to interrogate?

📎 2. Drop One Real Fact

• “A lot of these bots say things like ‘I love you’ and pretend to be romantic partners. That surprised me.”
  → What’s one fact I can share without spiraling into a warning?

🧭 3. Pivot to Shared Values

• “What do you think makes a healthy relationship—with a person or an app?”

• “Would it feel comforting or weird if a bot knew more about you than a friend?”
  → Am I inviting thought, not pushing fear?

(Try this yourself first: What kind of emotional connection do you model with tech?)

This isn’t a one-and-done conversation. But it’s a start. My hope is that by using this kind of sequence of questions, you can build confidence while creating an open environment to talk about this topic with you kid.

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BEFORE YOU GO…

You’ve now got the words to start a conversation on a vitally important topic that most parents haven’t even considered. Try it this week—just one question opens the door.

If this made things clearer, forward it to a parent who’s navigating the same digital maze. That’s how you lead—and help others do the same.

Until next time,
James Brauer
Founder, Future-Ready Parents