For many boys and young men, companionship now oen lives in the late-night DM, the squad lobby, and the streak-keeping snap. Technology has reorganized where hanging out happens. Nearly half of U.S. teens report being online “almost constantly,” (Pew, 2025). Boys in particular cluster in gaming environments, socializing via live voice chat that blends play, banter and belonging (Pew 2024).
Over the same period, in-person sociability has thinned. Americans are spending less time socializing than a decade ago. Loneliness is widespread. Men have seen a steep decline in the number of close friends (U.S. Surgeon General 2023; Survey Center on American Life, 2021; Pew 2024).
Into this mix come AI companions—conversational agents built for personalized, empathetic, and sustained interaction. ey are no longer speculative technologies; for half of adolescents, they are a routine presence (Common Sense Media, 2025). ese systems offer a potent mix of always-available attention, nonjudgmental listening, and the simulation of friendship, intimacy, or mentorship. In early studies some users report AI companionship reducing loneliness and improving mood (De Freitas et al. 2024).