As the use of AI becomes more ingrained in our daily lives and chatbots are added to social media apps, it seems harder and harder to predict how AI will shape our world, including the future of our children. In fact, new research has already revealed that one in five teens and young adults seek advice from an AI chatbot when they feel stressed, angry, or upset.
In a survey of more than 42 million Americans between the ages of 12 and 21, researchers found that nearly one-fifth of them reported using AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Character.AI for mental health advice. The number has increased by half compared to the previous year’s survey results. Notably, most of the study participants “didn’t tell anyone they were using an AI chatbot for this purpose,” the study authors said.
Of the young people who asked an AI chatbot for mental health advice, one in 12 did so on a monthly or more frequent basis. The majority of them (91.7% to be exact) rated the responses as “somewhat or very helpful.” The researchers argue that this perceived usefulness “may reflect AI chatbots’ tendency to flattery and over-flattering rather than the quality of the advice they provide.”
So what does this mean for parents and children? Scary Mummy asked two child psychologists to help make sense of these findings.
Why are teens turning to AI chatbots for mental health advice?
First, experts believe this is not a problem of teens preferring to connect with machines over friends and family. That’s simple. At least that’s what health care providers are hearing from their young patients.
“AI is available 24/7. AI is non-judgmental and responsive. We also have the ability for AI to respond with compassion. This is a positive feedback mechanism for teens to continue using and responding to AI,” said Dr. Lana Elmaghraby, board-certified psychiatrist at Cincinnati Children’s Center and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the University of California.
Youth culture and technology experts are honestly not surprised by these findings.
“For some teens, AI Chatbots may feel like a nonjudgmental space where you can ask questions, try out scenarios, and understand your feelings without feeling embarrassed, ignored, or exposed. I don’t think this means that teens are no longer seeking human connection. I think it means that we need to be more careful about where young people feel safe enough to speak honestly. “Young people are already using social media and digital tools to talk about their pain, process their grief, seek affirmation, and seek help. AI chatbots may feel like the next place to turn because they are readily available, always available, and often perceived as private.”
How should parents talk to their teens about mental health and the use of AI?
We may understand, but why Teens are drawn to AI for advice about stress and grief, but we also know that AI is not a good substitute for talking to a trusted adult or seeking professional care. But how do I say that to my teenage child?
“I think parents should approach this as a balanced conversation rather than a fear-based conversation,” Patton says. “The starting point shouldn’t be, ‘AI is dangerous, stay away from AI.’ A better starting point is, ‘What are you using? How are you using it? What are you going there for? What does it give you in not feeling like you’re anywhere else?'”
Patton says it’s important to simply explain the pros and cons of AI. For example, it’s designed to sound caring, but you can’t feel it. They will give you sound advice, but sometimes you need wisdom and accountability. AI can respond to advice instantly and predict what a human adult would say, but it doesn’t have a complete picture of your life. “AI can sound compassionate and rationalize emotions, but it cannot understand suffering,” said Elmaghraby.
Experts say your job is to help your child understand the appropriate role of AI in their lives. What can AI definitely help with? And what should you check with a parent, therapist, or other adult? Elmaghraby says that while it might be okay for chatbots to use evidence-based coping strategies pulled from trusted websites, it shouldn’t be a source of advice for teens to decide what to do next, and chatbots don’t have the ability to make judgments. Also consider how you will use AI and have an open discussion with your teen about how you will verify the responses it provides.
Finally, experts agree that of course Parents want their teens to tell them if they have any mental health concerns. I wish that were the case, but it’s unrealistic to expect them to run to you every time they feel sad or stressed. That’s not the point here.
“Ask your teens what platforms they use, what questions they ask, and how they feel after using them. Talk clearly about boundaries, privacy, misinformation, and the importance of not relying on AI in moments of crisis,” says Patton. “Most importantly, help teens build a broader circle of support, such as parents, therapists, school counselors, coaches, mentors, aunts, older cousins, religious leaders, or other trusted adults who understand the complexity of what they are going through. The goal is not to pretend that teens should talk to their parents about everything. The goal is to help teens avoid being alone with machines when what they really need is care, connection, and someone to help them stay safe.”
