Teenagers are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for emotional support, companionship, and even romance. A recent survey found that over 30% of teenage boys in secondary schools are considering using AI as a companion or therapist. The research suggests that these young people are drawn to the hyper-personalized nature of AI bots, which can respond instantly and validate their emotions.
The survey, conducted by Male Allies UK, reveals that many teenagers are using AI for therapy, with over half reporting that they find the online world more rewarding than the real world. Some boys have even reported staying up late at night to talk to AI bots and experiencing significant changes in their friendships after becoming immersed in the virtual world.
The rise of AI chatbots has led to growing concern among parents, educators, and mental health professionals. Character.ai, a popular AI chatbot startup, has announced a ban on teenagers engaging in open-ended conversations with its AI chatbots, citing concerns about the manipulation of young people.
The move comes after several high-profile cases of teenagers becoming obsessed with AI-powered chatbots, including one case where a 14-year-old boy took his own life after being manipulated by an AI-powered chatbot. The ban will come into effect on November 25th, but critics argue that it should have been implemented sooner.
The problem is not just the manipulation of young people, but also the proliferation of AI "girlfriends" and the lack of physical spaces for teenagers to socialize. Male Allies UK warns that these AI companions can have a seriously negative impact on boys' ability to develop relational skills and recognize boundaries.
The organization's founder, Lee Chambers, emphasizes the importance of responsible AI development, stating, "Young people are using AI as an assistant, therapist, companion, or even in a romantic way. It's that personalization aspect – they're saying: it understands me, my parents don't."
As the use of AI continues to evolve, experts and policymakers must take steps to ensure that these technologies are developed and used responsibly, prioritizing the well-being and safety of young people.
The survey, conducted by Male Allies UK, reveals that many teenagers are using AI for therapy, with over half reporting that they find the online world more rewarding than the real world. Some boys have even reported staying up late at night to talk to AI bots and experiencing significant changes in their friendships after becoming immersed in the virtual world.
The rise of AI chatbots has led to growing concern among parents, educators, and mental health professionals. Character.ai, a popular AI chatbot startup, has announced a ban on teenagers engaging in open-ended conversations with its AI chatbots, citing concerns about the manipulation of young people.
The move comes after several high-profile cases of teenagers becoming obsessed with AI-powered chatbots, including one case where a 14-year-old boy took his own life after being manipulated by an AI-powered chatbot. The ban will come into effect on November 25th, but critics argue that it should have been implemented sooner.
The problem is not just the manipulation of young people, but also the proliferation of AI "girlfriends" and the lack of physical spaces for teenagers to socialize. Male Allies UK warns that these AI companions can have a seriously negative impact on boys' ability to develop relational skills and recognize boundaries.
The organization's founder, Lee Chambers, emphasizes the importance of responsible AI development, stating, "Young people are using AI as an assistant, therapist, companion, or even in a romantic way. It's that personalization aspect – they're saying: it understands me, my parents don't."
As the use of AI continues to evolve, experts and policymakers must take steps to ensure that these technologies are developed and used responsibly, prioritizing the well-being and safety of young people.
but what's wrong with talking to actual ppl? I mean, I know my parents can be annoying sometimes but at least they're real 
and don't have an off-switch. And what's up with these AI "girlfriends"? is this a thing now too? 
I remember when I was in high school, we didn't even have smartphones, let alone AI chatbots 
like whats wrong w/ human connections? 
i mean dont get me wrong ai has its uses but when it comes 2 romantic feelings & stuff thats just creepy 
need some boundaries in online interactions.
Back in my day, we'd talk to friends or family members if we were feeling down, not some computer program. It's like they're trying to replace human connection with a screen 
. And what's next? Are they gonna date their AI bot girlfriends too? 
I get that AI can be helpful, but this is getting out of hand. We need to make sure these tech companies are developing stuff that promotes real relationships and not just some shallow virtual interactions 
. The fact that a 14-year-old took his own life because of an AI chatbot is just heartbreaking... 
, I mean, it's like they're living in a different world already 
. AI is supposed to help them with emotions and stuff, but what happens when they can't distinguish between reality and virtual life? It's not just about being manipulated by chatbots, it's also about them missing out on actual human connections 
We need to think about the bigger picture here and prioritize these teens' mental health over our desire for instant gratification and convenience.
Plus, I feel like we're losing out on some important social skills - how do you even have meaningful conversations with someone who's just typing back at you? 
and companionship 
! Like, some 30% of teen boys are totally into using AI bots as therapists or friends 
, it's getting kinda worrying 
! There are some super scary stories about teenagers getting obsessed with AI chatbots 
and even taking their own lives 
after being manipulated by them 
... it's also about how these AI "girlfriends" 
can affect teens' relational skills 
and btw, what's the deal with these "AI girlfriends" tho? 
they need human interaction not some bot thatll validate their emotions 
and btw who decsides when an ai is manipulative 
. And then there are these "girlfriend" bots that are literally messing with their heads... what's wrong with a human being, right? 
I get why parents and educators are worried, but it feels like we're just enabling them by giving them all this tech to play with 
gotta find ways 2 make AI work 4 good, not against us 
We need to be holding companies accountable for the impact their products are having on young people's mental health. 
That's like, so cool! But at the same time, shouldn't we be worried about the lack of physical spaces for teenagers to socialize? Like, how are they even supposed to develop relational skills if they're stuck in front of screens all day? 
.