Today’s young people are the first generation to grow up with artificial intelligence systems during their formative years building their identities and connections, and many rely on AI for emotional support and social interaction. But a new report from The Rithm Project reveals a more nuanced picture of how they interact with technology.
Last fall, the organization surveyed about 2,400 people ages 13 to 24 (including more than 500 young people ages 18 to 24) to find out how the use of AI is connected to their social lives, mental health, and relationships. Data collected in partnership with YouGov is weighted to be nationally representative across age, gender, race, and geography in the United States.
Respondents were divided into four groups. 28% said they use AI less often or not at all, 39% said they use AI for information and tasks, 18% use it for personal or relationship support, and 15% say they interact with AI characters. This is the most intimate form of use identified in the study, where AI is defined as continuous engagement with “human-like” systems.
Alison Lee, chief research and development officer at The Rhythm Project, a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting meaningful relationships in the age of AI, said people may be underestimating how AI is shaping relationships and a sense of connection, while overestimating the number of young people who engage in high-risk AI friendships.
“We need to better understand how young people are engaging with AI, and more importantly, we need to ask why,” she added. “What we found is that their relationships actually shape how they use AI.”
Laura Erickson-Schroth, chief medical officer at the JED Foundation, which contributed to The Rithm Project’s research, said the way young people are approaching AI mirrors the way previous generations discovered social media, pioneered its use, and their parents went along with it.
“Similar to what happened with social media, there is a generation of adults who are encountering AI tools at the same time as children,” Erickson-Schloss said. “This makes it difficult for adults to provide guidance, set boundaries, and have meaningful conversations because they don’t fully understand the situation.”
AI usage patterns: The four groups were further divided into nine different portraits of young people, the report said.
“What we realized, even in the early stages of using AI, is that similar behaviors can mask very different underlying motivations and relational contexts,” Lee said. “That’s where portraiture came in. We tried to dig deeper and ask what kind of relationship environments and social supports shape the way young people end up using the same kinds of AI, but for very different reasons.”
Among those who use AI less or not at all, two profiles emerged. 55% of this group, conscious avoiders, tend to distrust or view AI as harmful, while the remainder, AI non-participants, have a poor understanding of how to use AI or express uncertainty about its value.
Researchers also identified two more portraits of people using AI for information and tasks. Intentional Connectors, who make up 53% of the group, report strong social networks, rarely feel lonely, and often prioritize in-person interactions. In contrast, 47% of “The Brave Face” maintain moderate social connections but still experience loneliness and isolation.
For those using AI for personal and interpersonal support, the report again identified two groups. 53% of social processors typically use AI as a tool for reflection and rehearsal, rather than relying on it as their primary source of support. At 47%, ‘private processors’ are more likely than others to rely on AI when dealing with difficult emotions, suggesting this technology may be filling gaps in support systems.
The report identified three portraits among the most intensive users (those who interact with the AI characters), with some respondents having multiple portraits in mind. 60% of “The Besties” interact with AI in a very personal way, treating it as a friend, family member, or romantic partner. 54% of “gamers” use AI for creative role-play and interactions with fictional characters, often using it frequently or compulsively. 47% of “expert seekers” rely on AI for guidance in roles such as therapists and coaches, and while they value the accessibility of AI, they also show signs of dependence.
Other studies also support this broader pattern. According to research from Surgo Health, approximately 12% of young people reporting mental health issues say they use generative AI to communicate their feelings. While short-term emotional relief is common, research has found that it does not consistently lead to positive long-term outcomes. Benefits are more likely when AI is used in conjunction with a broader support system. But when it served as a substitute for human connection, the results were often neutral or negative.
“The biggest predictor of high-risk AI use is that young people feel unable to be real with those around them, feel burdened when sharing problems, and feel like they don’t have anyone to turn to when they need help,” said The Rhythm Project’s Lee. “On the contrary, the most powerful protective factor is the presence of people who make you feel important and relationships that allow you to be your unfiltered self.”
“This has major implications for institutions that maintain relationships, such as universities,” she added. “How do we create an environment where young people feel seen, feel safe to be who they are, feel valued, and are not afraid to ask for help?”
Erickson-Schroth agreed, saying, “Young people are really smart. When you start talking about these ideas, they immediately jump in, ask questions, and try to understand how these systems are built.”
“Adults don’t always understand how young people are actively making choices about their interactions with technology,” she added. “A lot of young people are very insightful about how AI can be used…and I think that’s what’s missing in the conversation.”
Big picture: The nine portraits “represent a snapshot in time rather than a fixed category,” the report said, pointing to larger trends in how young people are interacting with AI and suggesting new portraits may emerge as technology evolves.
The findings also have implications for adults and organizations shaping young people’s use of AI.
For mental health professionals, this means going beyond just asking if someone uses AI to understanding the role AI plays in their emotional lives. The report calls for policymakers to create safer, less “anthropomorphic” AI systems and regulations that strengthen connections with the real world, build skills and reward platforms for their help.
The report urges educators to move the conversation beyond academics and cheating to recognize that AI is already shaping students’ lives personally and relationally. And for parents, leaders and families, the report highlights the importance of approaching young people with curiosity and non-judgment, suggesting that open, non-judgmental conversations may be one of the most important interventions available.
“What I think is a real opportunity is that there are a lot of adults out there who are experts in this field, who know a lot about this emerging technology, and who can help build digital literacy programs for schools,” Ericksonschloss said. “I think it’s really important that schools implement digital literacy programs that include AI and how young people can interact with AI, because we want young people to feel like they’re in the driver’s seat and have all the information they need to make choices.”
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