Toward an Ethic of Synthetic Relationality: Identity, Intimacy, and Risk in AI-Mediated Roleplay Environments

Abstract

Platforms like Character.AI offer new avenues for identity exploration and self-expression, but also introduce profound parasocial, socioemotional, and psychological risks. Drawing on developmental psychology, fan studies, human-computer interaction, and AI ethics, this paper examines how AI-mediated roleplay environments simulate intimacy while fostering dependency, boundary erosion, and perceptual misalignment. Through thematic analysis of an anonymous survey (N=344) of Character.AI users, we identify patterns of identity projection, perceived relationship growth, addictive engagement, boundary confusion, emotional substitution, ethical dissonance, and trauma reenactment. Beyond documenting vulnerabilities, we propose design interventions, including dynamic consent scaffolding, reflexivity prompts, and interactional transparency, to safeguard user agency and developmental wellbeing. We argue that synthetic companions do not merely extend fan practices but fundamentally reconfigure interpersonal architectures, demanding a new ethic of synthetic relationality. As AI-driven intimacy becomes increasingly persuasive and immersive, addressing its high-stakes implications is critical to responsible AI design, particularly for younger and vulnerable populations.