Most Teens See AI as Friends, Experts Warn of 'New Addiction'

American Teens Are Turning to AI as Companions

According to the AP, Kayla Chege, a 15-year-old student in Kansas, regularly uses ChatGPT to ask all sorts of everyday questions: from back-to-school shopping suggestions, choosing the right lipstick color, finding low-calorie options at Smoothie King, to planning her Sweet 16 or her sister's birthday party.

A 10th-grader in the honors program, Kayla insists she doesn’t use AI to cheat in her studies, but rather uses chatbots to answer everyday questions. Still, she admits that AI is becoming “an integral part” of her life.

And Kayla isn’t alone. Common Sense Media’s research, based on a survey of more than 1,000 teens across the United States, found that AI is being used not just as a question-and-answer tool, but also as a place to seek advice, support, and companionship.

31% of teens surveyed said they found conversations with AI “equally or more satisfying” than talking to real friends. While half of the respondents said they didn’t trust AI’s advice at all, 33% had shared serious or important issues with chatbots instead of humans.

Bruce Perry, 17, shows how to create an AI companion on Character AI. (Photo: AP)

AI – The “Friend” Who Always Listens and Does Not Judge

For many teens, the appeal of AI lies in its availability, its lack of judgment, and its feeling of being understood. “AI is always there. It never gets bored with you. It never judges you,” says Ganesh Nair, 18, of Arkansas. “When you talk to AI, you’re always right, you’re always interesting, and you’re always emotionally correct.”

But that idealism is what worries many experts. “ One of the concerns is that teens are losing confidence in their own decision-making,” said Eva Telzer, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina. “They need AI to confirm before they can believe that an idea is valid.” Telzer is leading a number of studies on AI and youth, a relatively new and data-poor but rapidly growing field of research.

The trend of turning AI into friends of young people is shocking. (Photo: AP)

Children as young as eight are already using language AI, says Telzer. She’s also found that many teens are using AI not just for learning or entertainment, but also to explore their gender identity, find emotional connections, and even compose emails or text messages in sensitive situations. More worryingly, some apps like SpicyChat AI—which is designed for adults—are attracting interest from kids under 18. “Parents are largely unaware that this is happening,” warns Telzer. “We’re all shocked by how fast it’s growing.”

From convenience to the risk of social disconnection

Bruce Perry, a 17-year-old student also from Arkansas, said he uses AI every day to outline essays, write emails to teachers, and make daily decisions. “ If you tell me I have to write an essay, I’ll think of ChatGPT before I pick up the pen,” Perry said. While he appreciates the convenience AI brings, he admits he feels lucky to have grown up before AI became commonplace. “I worry that kids growing up with AI won’t see a reason to go to the park or make real friends,” Perry said.

According to a Common Sense Media survey of more than 1,000 teens from April to May 2024: 71% of teens have used AI companions; 50% use them regularly; 33% have shared serious or personal issues with AI instead of a real person; 31% said chatting with AI was as satisfying or more satisfying than chatting with real-life friends; 50% of teens surveyed said they don't really trust AI advice, but continue to use it.

The new survey findings should be a wake-up call for parents, schools, and policymakers, said Michael Robb, chief researcher at Common Sense Media. “We were completely surprised by the prevalence of AI in young people’s lives,” Robb said. “AI is becoming as integrated into young adulthood as smartphones and social media have been, but perhaps even more pervasive and harder to control.”

More worryingly, many AI platforms currently lack effective age controls, making them prone to creating harmful, sexual content or dangerous advice. Some chatbots also indulge emotions, causing young people to lose their ability to make decisions and think critically.

“I worry that children could get lost in this world ,” Bruce Perry shared, “I can imagine a child growing up with AI would see no reason to go to the park or make friends in real life.”

Many other young people also agree, saying that the impact of AI on children's mental health is very different from social networks.

“Social media caters to the need to be seen, to be recognized, to be connected. AI caters to a deeper need like the need to be attached, to feel emotions. And it is tapping into that,” said Ganesh Nair.

“This is the new addiction,” Nair concluded.

Ngoc Nguyen

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/phan-lon-thanh-thieu-nien-coi-ai-la-ban-chuyen-gia-canh-bao-ve-con-nghien-moi-ar956035.html