Against Imaginary Friends: Why Digital Companions Are No Solution to Social Isolation

For several decades, some people have suggested that loneliness and social isolation could be reduced by providing older persons with social robots. This project has, to date, failed: Social robots remain expensive, have limited functionality, and are unable to maintain the interest of users. However, a new technology, “digital companions,” looks more plausible. In this article, we extend the criticisms that have been made of social robots to digital companions and identify new dangers associated with the use of digital companions. It is possible that digital companions will allow people to feel less lonely. However, encouraging people to mistake imaginary friends for real friends is prima facie unethical. More importantly, encouraging people to have imaginary friends is no solution to social isolation. Proposals to use digital companions to combat loneliness and social isolation also underestimate the importance of touch, physical companionship, and mutual aid, when it comes to human well-being.