Children’s relationship with technology has always been a subject of intrigue, anxiety, and debate. In the latest shift, AI chatbots are emerging not just as tools for school assignments, but as companions and advice-givers, often blurring the lines between technology and friendship. As digital conversational agents like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Replika weave themselves into daily routines, a growing number of kids—especially those considered vulnerable—are forming complex relationships...