Young people surveyed said they used AI for six different reasons, including not wanting to “trauma dump” their problems on others and viewing AI as an unbiased third party, according to a report from the mental health organization Hopelab.
A’Davion Bush, a political science student and policy advocate at the University of Mississippi, said people his age feel AI offers concrete advice but he believes the information could potentially be dangerous.
"When it comes to the privacy part of it, it's something that definitely has to be thought out," Bush acknowledged. "Are these topics safe? If something was declared an emergency or something that needs to be shared with authorities, as a therapist would when they get sensitive information, how would AI do that?"
Bush pointed out AI shapes its answers based on information provided by the user and chatbots respond as if they went through the same thing. Research shows one in three teens have used chatbots to discuss serious issues instead of reaching out to a real person. The report showed adolescents are adopting generative AI companions faster than researchers, clinicians and policymakers can create policies to keep them safe.
Emma Bruehlman-Senecal, research principal for HopeLab, said the gap has consequences.
"We don't yet know the implications of turning to AI. They used to turn to family members, to their friends. AI is not going to challenge you the way a person might. AI is going to be more agreeable. It's going to be always available," Bruehlman-Senecal observed.
Some lawmakers are pushing for legislation to target AI chatbots. In the meantime, Bruehlman-Senecal has tips for parents who need to discuss online safety with their children.
"'If you ever want to talk about using AI, I'm here to talk about it. I know a lot of teenagers are going to chatbots for emotional support and advice. Is that something you've ever considered doing? This is some of the benefits I could see to that. This is some of the risks,'" Bruehlman-Senecal advised.
