“You Need to Drop the App”: Online Community Responses to Teens’ Disclosures of Overreliance on AI Companion Chatbots

Abstract

AI companion chatbots are used for emotional interaction and companionship, particularly among adolescents. Prior research explains how youth become attached to AI systems, but less is known about how others respond when problematic reliance is disclosed. We examined 973 comment trees from 144 Reddit posts where self-identified teens discussed overreliance on Character. AI. We found that informational and emotional support dominated responses, though dismissive or mocking comments also appeared. Support styles varied by problem framing. Posts describing withdrawal or excessive use tended to elicit advice and behavioral strategies, while relapse-oriented posts more often elicited emotional reassurance and esteem affirmation. These findings show how online communities construct norms around responsibility, addiction, and recovery in emerging AI companion ecosystems. They also suggest that chatbot platforms could scaffold framing-sensitive peer support, while preserving privacy and avoiding engagement-oriented interventions. Content Warning. This paper includes excerpts from online discussions containing explicit language and references to distressing topics (e.g., mental health struggles or self-harm), which may cause discomfort. Reader discretion is advised.