Written by A third of young people are now using an AI companion, according to new research. The RELATE Project 2026, by Christian youth ministry Young Life, spoke to over 7,100 teenagers and young adults across 11 different countries including the US, UK, Argentina, Mexico, India and Nigeria. The research found that in 2025 the average young person had 4.4 close relationships, down from 5.3 in 2023.
When it comes to discussing the subjects that really matter, on average young people said they only had two people in their lives who qualified. Some 40 per cent of young people said they were not fully confident that there was an adult in their life who had a genuine interest in listening to them. In order to build trust with such an adult, 73 per cent said that confidentiality was the most important factor. The research found that while most young people prefer face to face communication with their friends (64 per cent – up 10 points from 2023), the use of AI companions appears to becoming more prevalent, particularly with younger teenagers.
Over a third (35 per cent) of young people report using an AI companion, rising to 45 per cent among those aged 13 to 15. A majority (60 per cent) of those who use an AI companion say they feel more comfortable sharing their problems with AI than with real-world friends and family. Newt Crenshaw, President and CEO of Young Life, said of the research, “The RELATE Project tells us that while young people are constantly connected online, they are craving authentic, in-person community. “They don’t want perfect, frictionless screens. They are looking for trusted, consistent adults who will step into their worlds, earn and keep their trust, and simply be there to listen.”
Dr Kimberly Nollan, Director of Research and Practice at Young Life, said, “To walk alongside today’s young people, we have to put down our own distractions and show up in their world. “This starts with proving we are safe enough to listen – protecting their confidentiality and offering space for them without immediately trying to offer advice or judgement.”
Source: Third of young people now turning to AI for friendship, research finds – Christian Today
May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!
Psalm 20:4
Endurance Through Trials: God’s Promise of Reward
Endurance proves that your faith is real. Trials may test you, but they also refine you. When you remain faithful through hardship, you demonstrate love for God and…
Keep reading
Police in Algeria Arrest 12 Christians during Worship
Special force police in Algeria raided a worship service at a humanitarian shelter on Sept. 4, arresting all 12 Christians present on suspicion of holding an unauthorized, non-Muslim…
Keep reading
Nurturing Faith: The Unseen Growth Process
A lot of times God does His greatest work where we see the least progress, quietly growing faith beneath the surface while we simply remain faithful. He said,…
Keep reading
Faithful Growth: Nurturing Your Spiritual Journey
Tomorrow is the birthplace of many fears, yet it is also the place where God’s faithfulness is already waiting. Anxiety pulls tomorrow’s trouble into today. Jesus reminds us…
Keep reading
3 boaters rescued from capsized catamaran on Lake Michigan
Three boaters were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office after their catamaran capsized on Lake Michigan. The Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan…
Keep reading
Isaiah 45:2
“I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, This verse…
Keep reading
God’s Renewal: Hope in Times of Tiredness
Even the strongest believers grow tired. Faith does not remove exhaustion, it gives us strength to keep going when our strength is gone. God does some of His…
Keep reading
Bear accidentally dumped into trash truck after climbing inside trash container
A recent video from Castle Rock shows a Colorado black bear escaping from a waste management truck. Last Wednesday, Castle Rock resident Evan Elmore says the bear had…
Keep reading
Trusting God to Go Before You To Make Your Path Straight
When the path looks crooked and the way ahead unclear, remember the Lord goes before you. He will make the rough places smooth and keep your feet from…
Keep reading
Sea turtle lays eggs on Southern California beach for first time, wildlife experts believe
A sea turtle has nested on a West Coast beach for what wildlife experts say is the first time in recorded history. Video captured last Wednesday in Seal…
Keep reading
Overcoming Fear with God’s Promises
When your strength runs out and fear begins to rise, remember this truth: God does His greatest work in our weakest moments. Don’t you be afraid, for I…
Keep reading
Injured Pelican Knocks on NOAA Fisheries Office Door Looking for Help
A pelican in Florida came knocking for help, quite literally, using its beak. NOAA Fisheries Service The unusual encounter happened at the NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center in…
Keep reading
Scientists Just Found the First New Cat Species in 100 Years — And Can’t Believe They Missed It
Scientists have identified a new wild cat species in Bolivia’s cloud forests—and the strangest part is that it was hiding in plain sight. Called the tilcayo, this tiny…
Keep reading
Ontario, Canada: Police officer wounded in shooting near synagogue
A police officer was shot and wounded near a synagogue in Ontario, Canada, on Sunday evening during an exchange of gunfire with an armed man as congregants gathered…
Keep reading
Colorado UTV rider rescued after falling 250 feet down steep embankment
A UTV rider in Colorado was hospitalized after losing control near a steep embankment and falling about 250 feet. Around 11:29 p.m., Grand County Search and Rescue says…
Keep reading
Pentagon releases more UFO files, including documents on secretive military program
The Pentagon on Friday released its sixth batch of files on unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP or UFOs, including dozens of documents detailing a military program that commissioned…
Keep reading
Inmate, 10 correctional officers hospitalized after mattress fire at Cook County Jail
An inmate and 10 Cook County Jail correctional officers were hospitalized Sunday afternoon after a mattress fire. The Cook County Sheriff’s office said around 3 p.m. Sunday, deputies…
Keep reading
Embracing Our Limits: God’s Grace in Weakness
God understands our weakness better than we understand it ourselves. “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14 God does not expect endless…
Keep reading
How to Prepare for Christ’s Return Amid Global Turmoil
The world is searching for answers as fear, confusion, wars, disasters, and moral darkness continue to increase. But long before today’s headlines, Jesus warned humanity that these things…
Keep reading
Come to Me: Finding Rest in Jesus When Life Feels Heavy
You are not defined by the weight you carry. The One who bore the cross now offers His strength in exchange for your weariness. “Come to me, all…
Keep reading
Wanda the therapy donkey brings joy to Pennsylvania seniors: “She’s like Ariel from ‘The Little Mermaid’”
She spent her first 12 years in the wild, wandering through Arizona, but after being adopted by Kelsey Parisi last year, Wanda the donkey acclimated to life on…
Keep reading
Trump says he’s struck deal to give U.S. “permanent control over security” in Greenland
President Trump said Friday he has struck a deal to give the United States “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland,” following a push by…
Keep reading
Between Sacramento and Davis, nearly 250,000 bats take flight each night beneath the Yolo Causeway
You may have driven over the Yolo Causeway between West Sacramento and Davis countless times, but there is more than just traffic on the bridge. The NorCal Bat…
Keep reading
Maryland State Police intern helps rescue injured bald eagle from roadway
A Maryland State Police intern found himself on an incredible, unexpected assignment this week. The department posted two photos on social media Friday, showing Centreville Barrack intern Jackson…
Keep reading
Proverbs 21:23
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. This verse emphasizes that people who carefully watch what they say will protect themselves from serious…
Keep reading
Slow to Speak: The Secret to Wise Reactions
Talk less, listen more, because wisdom speaks after it understands, not before. If you want stronger relationships and real influence, master this: control your tongue, calm your anger,…
Keep reading
F-16 fighter jet crashes in residential area in northern Michigan
A U.S. F-16 fighter jet pilot safely ejected before the aircraft crashed in northern Michigan on Thursday afternoon, officials said. The incident occurred in Grand Traverse County when…
Keep reading
Serving Like Jesus: Redefining Leadership in Faith
Real leadership isn’t about power, it’s about serving like Jesus, even when it costs your pride. If you want to live out authentic Christian faith, start by lowering…
Keep reading
The Power of Surrender: Embracing God’s Will
Jesus teaches us to trust God’s plan, even when it’s painful. Surrendering our will allows God to work in ways we cannot understand. Bible Verse:“Father, if you are…
Keep reading
Psalm 5:8
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. In the verse David is praying in the morning while people…
Keep readingSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Discover more from Drink of Jesus
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.