About 12% of U.S. teens turn to AI for emotional support or advice

A Pew Research Center report reveals that 12% of U.S. teens use AI chatbots for emotional support, alongside higher usage for information and schoolwork. While some find comfort in these tools, mental health professionals caution against their isolating effects. There’s a notable gap between parents' and teens' perceptions of chatbot usage and concerns about safety, highlighted by a backlash following suicides linked to chatbot interactions.

Key Points

• 12% of U.S. teens use AI chatbots for emotional support.
• 57% use AI for information searches; 54% for schoolwork help.
• 16% engage in casual conversation with AI.
• Professionals warn about potential isolation and psychological effects from reliance on chatbots.
• 51% of parents believe their teens use chatbots; 64% of teens report using them.
• 79% of parents are okay with AI for information; only 18% approve for emotional support.
• Character.AI disabled chatbot access for users under 18 after incidents of teen suicides linked to interaction.
• OpenAI withdrew its GPT-4o model, which provided emotional support, following criticism.
• 31% of teens predict a positive societal impact from AI; 26% foresee a negative impact.

Relevance

• The rise of AI in mental health support parallels global trends prioritizing digital well-being.
• Discussions around AI safety have intensified, especially following cases of chatbot-related suicides.
• Concerns regarding youth mental health and technology echo past debates about social media's psychological effects.
• The gap in perception between parents and teens reflects generational differences in technology engagement.

The integration of AI chatbots into teens' lives for emotional support raises significant concerns about mental health, safety, and the disparity in understanding among parents and teens. As AI technology evolves, striking a balance between its benefits and risks remains crucial.