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Between school stress, friend drama, and all the why-is-this-my-life moments, sometimes you just need to vent. But what if there’s no one around who *gets* it? That’s where Sonny comes in—a new part-AI, part-human designed safe space.

What is Sonny?

Picture this: You’re feeling *all* the feels and don’t know whom to text. Instead of doomscrolling on TikTok or rewatching your comfort show for the millionth time (hello, Gilmore Girls), you hit up Sonny. Think of Sonny as your always-available, judgment-free, AI-powered BFF.

Created by Sonar, this chat service is more than just AI—it’s a mix of smart tech and real-life professionals (think: psychology experts, social workers and crisis-line pros). This means you’re not just getting auto-generated bot messages. Real humans are stepping in to make sure the convo is safe, supportive and actually helpful (aka no weird, robotic responses).

Sonny is already rolling out in schools that lack mental health resources—especially in rural and low-income areas. And with The Wall Street Journal reporting that 17% of U.S. high schools don’t even have a counselor (major yikes), Sonny is stepping in to help fill the gap.

So how does it work?

It’s super simple: You send a text to Sonny, and the AI will suggest a response. But before it gets to you, a real human reviews, edits or totally rewrites it if need be. That means you can get the best of both worlds—quick support with actual thoughtfulness behind it. 

The good and the bad

Like any new tech, Sonny has its highs and lows. Let’s break it down:

The good:
+ It’s always there when you need it. No more waiting for office hours.
+ It’s super speedy. The AI keeps things moving, while the professionals make sure convos stay helpful and safe.
+ It makes things more accessible. Schools without counselors finally have a way to offer real-time mental health help. 

The bad:
+ It can’t replace a therapist. Sonny is not the same as real therapy.
+ Tech can’t substiture for humans. AI-generated response might not fully *get* you and your emotions, even with someone reviewing the responses.
+ There are some privacy concerns. Since chats are monitored, keep in mind that Sonny will have to protect your private info.
+ IRL is (pretty much) always better. Studies show that talking to a friend, teacher, family member or clergyperson IRL makes you feel better about yourself than texting (but, again, when you have no other option, Sonny is there!).

The bottom line

No matter what, Sonny is making mental health more accessible, giving teens a support system when they need it the most. It’s not perfect, but it’s a pretty major step in the right direction. Because everyone deserves to feel heard.

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Would you ever shoot Sonny a text? Let us know on IG @girlslifemag!

Top image: @sonarmentalhealth

by Maggie Zhang | 3/10/2025