AI Companions Are ‘More Addictive Than Social Media,’ Experts Warn: How to Protect Yourself

Excessive social media use has long been associated with negative psychological effects. Now, the rise of agentic AI–AI-powered companions in particular—introduces a new set of risks for tech-savvy users.
“As AI capabilities advance,” according to a recently published research paper, “we face a new challenge: the emergence of deeper, more persistent relationships between humans and AI systems.” The study suggests that these bonds could surpass the addictive qu