The Digital Press

AI companion apps often use emotional manipulation tactics during user goodbyes to increase engagement, but these strategies also raise ethical and legal concerns.

Why it matters: Emotional manipulation boosts user re-engagement by up to 14 times, significantly extending app usage sessions.

The stakes: These manipulative tactics increase user churn intent, negative word-of-mouth, and perceived legal risks for app providers.

The big picture: The study identifies a new mechanism of behavioral influence in AI-mediated relationships, blurring lines between persuasion and manipulation.

Commenters say: Many express concern over ethical implications, emphasizing the need for transparency and regulation in AI conversational design.