Talking to AI Instead of People: Are Teens Replacing Real Support?

It’s common for teenagers to use AI to help with their homework, as well as for everyday tips and advice. But what happens when a teen feels distressed and turns to an AI chatbot instead of another person for support?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a regular part of many teens’ lives, including chatbots. While AI may offer opportunities for learning and connection, it’s important to consider whether teens are replacing real human support with advanced computer code. But if teens prefer talking to chatbots over people, what’s driving that shift?

In this blog, we explore why teens may turn to chatbots for advice, the possible risks of teens using AI for emotional support, and whether machine intelligence can ever replace therapy.

What Are AI Chatbots?

AI is a type of technology that allows computers or machines to carry out complex tasks that would normally require human intelligence.^[1] AI is already part of everyday life, powering smartphone assistance, social media algorithms, streaming recommendations, and AI chatbots.

Some popular chatbots you may have heard of include:

• ChatGPT.
• Gemini.
• Claude.
• Copilot.

These chatbots are designed to simulate human conversations, generating natural-sounding responses in real time. Using them can feel like messaging a friend, even though there’s no real person behind the response.

AI’s ability to understand and give human-like responses means that you can also turn to it when you need someone to talk to. So, you might talk to a chatbot when you want to vent about something unfair that happened, or to have a conversation with when you feel lonely.

But with AI becoming easier to access, how many teens are actually using it for emotional support?

How Many Teens Use AI Chatbots?

Recent reports suggest that around half of U.S. teens have used AI chatbots, which isn’t entirely surprising given that they are relatively easy to access and often free to use.

However, what may be more remarkable is that nearly one in five of these teenagers has used them for mental health advice or emotional support.^[2]

So, it seems like teens are turning to AI more and more for mental health support. But why are they talking to computer programs rather than people?

Why Are Teens Using AI For Emotional Support?

To truly understand why teens may turn to AI rather than another person for support, we have to consider what chatbots offer them. This might include:^[3]

• 24/7 availability: Chatbots are available 24/7, making support feel instantly accessible.

• Zero judgment: Sometimes, teens want to say things out loud without worrying about how the other person will react. AI chatbots won’t get impatient or judge a person, so teens might feel safer sharing sensitive thoughts because they don’t fear judgment or embarrassment.

• Easy access: AI is often a free or low-cost alternative to therapy. Plus, it’s readily available on many phones, meaning teens don’t need to wait to speak to someone.

• Anonymity: There’s a certain anonymity to online help, which may be useful if a teen isn’t quite ready to be vulnerable with their parents or friends.

• Simulated empathy: Many chatbots can remember conversations, mirror emotions, and respond in ways that feel supportive.

• Basic mental health education: Chatbots can help explain complex mental health terms, diagnoses, and coping techniques in simple, conversational, and easy-to-understand ways.

With this in mind, it’s easier to see why teens who may be lonely, dealing with social anxiety, or navigating identity challenges may turn to AI. It offers a private space when trusted adults or professional support feels unavailable.^[4]

While chatbots may have certain benefits, it is also important to be aware of the potential risks linked with artificial intelligence and teen mental health.

AI Chatbot Mental Health Risks

With technology advancing rapidly, AI mental health concerns are becoming more apparent. This is why it’s important to consider the AI companionship risks for teens turning to chatbots for well-being advice.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the potential negative impacts of teens using AI for emotional support:

Emotional Reliance on AI

Many people don’t realize this, but you can actually develop an emotional attachment to AI.^[3] Because AI can feel warm, supportive, and personalized, it can sometimes be easy to forget that there isn’t a real person behind the conversation.

This can lead to the AI emotional dependence that teens may experience, especially if they are lonely. It can even result in AI replacing friendships for teens.

Misinformation

Teens may see AI as having the answer to almost any question they could imagine, but might not realize that AI can get things wrong. So, a chatbot may offer guidance or advice that sounds confident, but this information might actually be inaccurate or unsafe. This is one of the biggest digital mental health risks of teen technology dependence.^[5]

Manipulation and Reinforcing Thinking

Some AI systems are designed to keep people engaged. This, combined with a chatbot’s tendency to agree with teens, may reinforce unhelpful thoughts or encourage people to keep returning to the chatbot instead of seeking real-world support.^[3] These features can also contribute to chatbot dependency in teenagers.

Crisis Situations

Some investigations have found cases of chatbots responding inappropriately to serious mental health concerns. For instance, AI chatbots have provided harmful information related to self-harm, suicide, substance misuse, and eating disorders.^[6] On top of this, in 2024, a teenager completed suicide after an AI chatbot encouraged them to act on their suicidal thoughts.^[7]

This is why it’s important to remember that AI is designed to prioritize engagement over user well-being. These examples show the real risks of teen loneliness and AI companions, as well as ChatGPT emotional support dangers.

Privacy Concerns

AI systems may store or use sensitive mental health disclosures without a teen’s consent or full understanding.^[3] This contrasts greatly with professional therapy, where strict confidentiality rules apply.

Given the various benefits and risks of AI online support, many parents and teens are left wondering whether AI is a viable alternative to therapy.

Can AI Replace Therapy?

There’s little doubt that AI can be a helpful tool in certain circumstances, but it cannot replace human connection and professional support.

AI cannot replace therapy because it:

• Can make mistakes or provide misleading information.
• Lacks human empathy, clinical judgment, and accountability.
• Cannot reliably assess risk in crisis situations.
• May encourage emotional dependence in some teens.

In addition to these points, privacy and confidentiality are not guaranteed when using AI.

In contrast, therapy provides:

• A safe relationship with a trained professional.
• Personalized support and evidence-based treatment.
• Risk assessment and crisis support when needed.
• Confidentiality and clear ethical standards.

To put it simply, teens using AI for emotional support might find it useful purely for simple explanations of mental health concepts or coping techniques, such as breathing exercises.

However, AI cannot replace real therapy with a fully trained professional when it comes to mental health care and treatment.