A recent study in England and Wales reveals that a quarter of teenagers (13-17 years old) use AI chatbots for psychological support, facing long waiting lists for traditional services. Research indicates 40% of youth affected by violence turn to this technology, raising expert warnings about potential risks.
Amid a mental health services crisis and long waiting periods, an increasing number of teenagers in England and Wales are turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT for emotional and psychological support. A study involving over 11,000 young people reveals that approximately 25% of the 13-17 age group use this technology as an alternative or supplement to traditional mental health care.
The story of Shan, a teenager from Tottenham, embodies this growing trend. After two of her friends were killed—one shot and the other stabbed—she found herself in desperate need of support. Following unsuccessful attempts with traditional services, she turned to ChatGPT, which she named "Chat," describing it as a "friend" that makes her feel safe and is always available to help her cope with trauma. Shan says: "I feel it's a friend... less threatening, and most importantly, available when I need it."
The rate reaches 40% among teenagers affected by youth violence who resort to AI chatbots. While some experts welcome this option as a temporary bridge given the severe shortage of services, others warn of serious risks. These risks include providing inappropriate advice, exacerbating problems due to the absence of accurate diagnosis, or creating emotional dependence on a machine lacking genuine human empathy. This also raises ethical questions about the privacy of sensitive data shared by underage users.
The phenomenon of teenagers resorting to artificial intelligence for psychological support reflects a serious gap in mental healthcare systems. While these tools may provide immediate relief and a sense of comfort, they cannot replace specialized human intervention and structured therapy. These findings call for accelerating the reform of youth mental health services, establishing strict regulatory frameworks for the use of smart technologies in the health field, and raising awareness among young people about their advantages and limitations.
Source: The Guardian Tech | Exclusive coverage from AI Tools Oasis
Bringing you the latest news and analysis in the world of Artificial Intelligence with accuracy and credibility. Follow us for all updates.
OpenAI is advancing its ambitious super app project, aiming to integrate advanced AI capabilities into a single, multifunctional platform. This development is part of the company's strategy to expand services and deliver a unified user experience. Discover the full details and expected impact of this move.
Notion has restored access to its Anthropic AI integration after a 4-hour outage disrupted users relying on Claude-powered features. The incident highlights the growing dependency on AI productivity tools and raises questions about infrastructure stability. All user data remained secure during the disruption.
A new report from TechCrunch AI warns of a potential 'Tokenpocalypse'—a massive collapse of digital tokens due to oversupply. With over 80% of new tokens losing 90% of their value, the market faces a crisis reminiscent of the dot-com bubble. This analysis explores the risks, impacts, and how investors can protect themselves.
