Sixty-four percent of teens use AI chatbots, and 28 percent use them daily. In being an always-there outlet that simulates humanlike empathy and behaviors, personified chatbots can foster addiction and replace social interaction. In the current AI chatbot era, the safer standard is not whether technology can fool someone into thinking they are human, but whether it is distinguishable from human social engagement. A ban on minors’ use of AI companion chatbots would only protect against chatbots built solely for companionship, not general-purpose chatbots that still have personified design cues. - - -Allie MaloneyAllie Maloney is a Policy Analyst for Americans for Responsible Innovation, where she researches AI governance policies that protect child safety and privacy.