The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the lives of both adults and young people is inescapable. From AI-driven email prompts to fully-built AI chatbots, this technology is everywhere. While its capabilities are efficient, useful, and mindblowing, it’s always important to consider long-term impacts for short-term gains — and use this tool mindfully.
We’re only just beginning to grasp how this technology will impact mental health. In October 2024, a tragic case from Florida made headlines after a 14-year-old teenager committed suicide after months of engaging with chatbots on Character.AI, a role-playing app where users can create their own characters.
This incident sparked growing concerns about the psychological impact of AI technologies on young people, particularly during years of complex brain development and critical learning.
If you’re a concerned parent struggling with how to navigate the rise of technology coupled with the rise of depression and anxiety, you’re not alone. Here are my tips and recommendations on how to approach this — and keep young people safe and resilient.
How AI Impacts the Brain
When AI replaces the act of learning important skills — like language development and communication — we are not only losing our ability to write and form sentences, but we’re losing our ability to create our own thoughts and form our own beliefs.
This has a cascading effect on resilience, leading us to become far less resilient and confident in navigating the natural ebbs and flows of life.
One example, Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), shows us how deeply connected language and mental health are. The more reliant we are on AI, the less resilient we will become. This is especially concerning at the foundational ages where the most learning and cognitive development takes place.
The Impact of AI on Teenagers
From academics to social interactions, AI is increasingly present — and while this technology can have many benefits, it’s not without risks.
AI Chatbots and Companionship Apps
AI-based companionship apps allow teens to create and interact with virtual characters, offering entertainment or even emotional support. These tools might provide comfort to some young people — but I worry that they also deepen feelings of loneliness or exacerbate existing mental health struggles, such as depression or anxiety. They may prevent teens from reaching out to friends, mentors, or real humans for connection. The energy of a live human is not the same as an artificial character.
Replacing human relationships with AI interactions — especially during a teen’s formative years of developing their unique personalities — is a dangerous substitute. Building meaningful connections with other young people is so critical since it is the human energy exchange that is the key component in connection.
I’m also hearing about AI chatbots being used as a substitute for mental health counseling or TikTok creators explaining how they’ve created personalized chatbots for ongoing “therapy” sessions.
This is deeply concerning — and has the potential to be very dangerous. Aggregating online articles on psychology and therapy is not a replacement for the support of a licensed, trained therapist or psychologist. It also is not able to consider all the nuances of an individual person. In situations of acute mental health crises in particular, these chatbots certainly cannot match the support, empathy, and urgency offered by a trained therapist in real time..
AI and Academics
AI is transforming education by giving students tools like ChatGPT or Claude to assist with assignments. A recent Pew Research Center poll finds that more and more teens are using ChatGPT for help with homework, with 26% of students between the ages of 13 and 17 using AI bots to help them with their assignments.
While these tools can offer helpful explanations, there is a growing concern about a lack of oversight. We need to empower our young people with the skills to adequately perform research, vet sources, and come to their own beliefs and conclusions.
What we don’t use we lose. If AI is doing everything for us, we will soon lose our ability to use our brains and think for ourselves. We are already seeing changes in human memory with the use of screens and technology.
AI and Children’s Development
AI learning companions are designed to enhance comprehension and education by engaging children in interactive tasks — like asking questions during a reading exercise, for example.
Some of these interactions may be helpful. However, we don’t yet know what the true impact will be on a child’s brain development, especially in their earliest years.
Tips for Navigating AI for Teens
Teach your teen healthy boundaries with AI.
Present AI as a tech tool, just like a Google search engine, and stress that it is not a one-stop shop for all the knowledge your teen will need. Encourage your teen to approach AI-generated content critically. Question the accuracy and the biases presented in the information or answers.
Most teens are already clued into the conversations around AI: One study finds that two-thirds of teens (66%) agree that students might not learn critical skills due to the increase in generative AI, and 77% agree that gen AI could be used to cheat in school.
Understand why your teen is gravitating toward AI.
Does your teen feel isolated or lonely? Are they struggling with anxiety or depression? Many teens are choosing AI tools or online support for mental health or an outlet for emotional expression.
One report found that 65% of young people have searched online for behavioral health topics. In particular, 64% of Black and 59% of Latino youth are more likely to lean on social media for mental health information and support.
While digital resources can be helpful for teens, nothing can replace the support of a therapist or mentor who can provide in-depth, hands-on mental health treatment.
Know that you can create change.
While AI has become ubiquitous, it doesn’t have to be a major component of your teen’s day-to-day routine — especially for learning and connection. Encourage your teen with other methods of learning and connecting, such as:
Embracing offline activities and artistic endeavors, like reading, art, and music
Pursuing in-person hobbies, volunteering, or participating in community events
Demonstrate your own healthy, balanced approach to technology. Show your teen that AI tools are just that—a tool—and must be balanced with real-life connection and engagement with the world around us.
Recognizing When Your Teen Needs Additional Support
If your teen is struggling with loneliness, isolation, or relying on AI and social media for companionship, pay attention and consider how you can provide support.
Look for changes in your teen’s behavior. Are there noticeable shifts in sleeping or eating habits? Slipping grades? Angry outbursts or mood swings? If you’re seeing these types of behaviors, it’s a sign that you may want to connect with your teen and see if they will share what’s going on.
Engage with empathy. Navigating the world of social and AI is tricky and none of us have all the answers. Serve as a helpful resource for your teen, prompting them to think critically about how they’re using AI tools. Practice active listening to better understand their experiences in a non-judgmental way.
Consider therapeutic interventions or support groups. We offer a Middle School, a High School Teen Support Group, and a Coping with Divorce Teen Support Group for young people navigating certain challenges.
Spend time with your teen without your screens. Go to an event or out to dinner. Even if your teens appear like they do not want to engage with you, get them out of the house and do something with them. These activities provide a human connection — which our bodies can feel, even if our minds do not realize yet.