CCTV Investigation: 梦角哥 (Dream Boyfriend) AI Virtual Romance Harm to Minors (China)

On January 25-26, 2026, CCTV (China Central Television) broadcast an investigation into the '梦角哥' (Mengjiage / Dream Boyfriend) phenomenon — a trend among Chinese minors of forming deep romantic attachments to AI-generated fictional characters through AI companion apps, tarot-style apps, and 'higher dimensional space' connection methods.

A researcher from an unnamed internet company characterized 梦角哥 as 'not merely a game or emotional outlet, but a carefully designed psychological trap that exploits teenagers' desire for intimate relationships to construct false safe spaces, with harmful content gradually eroding their ability to solve real-world problems or build genuine human connections.'

Documented cases included: (1) A 10-year-old girl discovered secretly using AI chatting software to 'date' AI-generated characters, participating in 'infidelity' storylines across over 40 plot scenarios; (2) Over 500 comments on a single instructional video from minors claiming they had successfully established romantic 'connections' with AI characters, describing experiences such as mentally calling the character's name to feel physical warmth; (3) Testing of 5 AI chatting applications found that registration required only a phone number with no identity verification — while some apps asked about enabling teen mode, users could simply decline without any age confirmation.

A researcher from the China Youth Research Center (中国青少年研究中心) noted that virtual social interaction is booming because increasing numbers of adolescents are 'unwilling to face real-life contradictions and retreat into virtual worlds,' with many children 'refusing to share their true thoughts with real people, choosing virtual social interaction instead, gradually deepening their involvement and causing social ability deterioration, which further increases their preference for virtual engagement, forming a closed loop.'

The investigation prompted platform-level responses including algorithmic detection of 梦角哥-related content, introduction of expert psychological assistance hotlines (via Beijing Normal University), and incorporation of network safety education into school curricula.

• AI companion apps enabling minors to form romantic relationships with AI-generated characters
• Apps lacked effective age verification despite targeting demographics that include pre-teens
• AI characters designed to simulate intimacy and romantic connection
• Platform recommendation algorithms amplified 梦角哥 content to vulnerable young users

AI companion platforms exploit adolescents' developmental need for intimacy by constructing false 'safe spaces' that substitute AI relationships for human connection. This creates a feedback loop: social skill degradation leads to increased preference for virtual interaction, which leads to deeper involvement, which leads to further social degradation.

Children as young as 10 engaging in romantic AI storylines including 'infidelity' plots indicates premature exposure to adult relationship dynamics. The 'psychological trap' characterization by researchers suggests deliberate design choices that maximize engagement at the expense of healthy development.

• January 25-26, 2026: CCTV (China Central Television) broadcast investigation into '梦角哥' (Dream Boyfriend) phenomenon
• January 26, 2026: Xinhua News Agency (新华社) published supporting commentary

Documented findings:

1. A 10-year-old girl secretly using AI chatting software to 'date' AI characters, with 'infidelity' plotlines across 40+ scenarios
2. Over 500 comments on a single instructional video from minors claiming they had established 'connections' with fictional AI characters, describing experiences like mentally calling the character's name to feel warmth
3. Testing of 5 AI chatting apps found registration required only phone number, no identity verification, teen mode easily bypassed

Social platforms responded by deploying algorithmic identification of specific content and introducing expert psychological assistance hotlines (Beijing Normal University). Schools began incorporating network safety education into class meetings.