A teen psychologist shares the #1 warning sign your child is emotionally dependent on AI
We spoke to a renowned teen psychologist who told us what parents should do if they find out their teenager is relying on a chatbot as their therapist and more.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Ottawa found that about one in every five teenagers in Ontario, grades four through 12, used AI chatbots for emotional support and advice. These students were twice as likely to have clinical emotional issues compared to those who didn't rely on AI. A high school senior named Vihaan Bhardwaj shared that using AI chatbots for emotional support ended up being counterproductive for him, as he didn't fully process his emotions and felt a sense of incompleteness.
Dr. Candice Feinberg, a teen psychologist and co-founder of ROWI Teen & Parent Wellness Centers, discussed the warning signs of teenagers becoming too emotionally dependent on AI. She emphasized that the biggest warning sign is when AI starts replacing real people in their lives, such as friends, parents, or therapists. Other signs include distress when they can't access the AI, secrecy around AI interactions, and describing the chatbot as the only one who truly understands them.
If a parent discovers their teenager is relying on a chatbot for emotional support, Dr. Feinberg suggests not to immediately take away their phone. Instead, ask the teenager about the topics they discuss with the chatbot and the benefits they gain from it. One key boundary to set is that AI cannot replace a therapist, as it cannot truly understand a child, observe behavior changes, assess risks, or have clinical responsibility.
If the teenager discusses serious issues like depression or anxiety with the chatbot, it's crucial to involve a mental health professional and address any safety concerns.
Healthy AI usage for teenagers could include asking AI to explain complex math concepts, brainstorm ideas for projects, generate study questions, or provide feedback on essays. Unhealthy usage, on the other hand, involves AI doing the developmental work for the teenager, such as writing assignments, deciding beliefs, providing constant reassurance, or becoming the first source of comfort when feeling sad, lonely, or angry.
Dr. Feinberg encourages parents to ask their teenagers three questions: what they thought before asking AI, if they agree with the AI's answer, and how they know the answer is accurate. She also stresses that schools should not ban AI but rather guide students on healthy usage.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
