We often take easy access to information for granted, but many of us remember the days before the internet, back before answers to our questions weren’t just a few finger-taps away. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) helps us get answers to life’s questions faster than ever. AI can be incredibly helpful to brainstorm, summarize, or find solutions to big problems. While you’re using AI to make your life easier, some kids and teens have begun using AI for friendship.
These chat-bots, which can be accessed through social media, act and speak like humans, making those who interact with bots feel like they are capable of empathy and support. However, that’s not the case. In fact, using chatbots may make children feel more disconnected than ever.
“When youth rely on chatbots for connection, they can actually become isolated and disconnected from other people their age,” explains Misty Richardson, LCSW, clinical manager, Pediatric Inpatient, Northern Light Acadia Hospital. “When any of us increase disconnection from other humans, it often leads to an increase in struggles which can quickly lead to anxiety or depressed mood.”
In 2025, the American Psychological Association released a health advisory stating that interactions with AI chatbots may make kids more easily influenced by the digital entity. Because of the trust kids may place in these AI connections, it can be difficult for them to identify what is real and what is a simulation.
Parents can help by modeling safe AI use and encouraging real human interactions and critical thinking. Talk to your kids about what they are learning, and fact-check any information that comes through AI sources. Consider if the information is misleading or false. Make sure to strongly emphasize caution when discussing any personal details or sharing photos online, which can put people at risk, making them vulnerable to hackers, thieves, and other criminals.
It’s important to remember that AI companions are not trusted friends. There’s no substitute for a good friend who can make you laugh or listen to your woes.
To learn more, visit ConnectSafely, a nonprofit organization educating users about safety, privacy, and security using internet technology.