For many young people, talking to an AI chatbot feels easier than talking to a person. A chatbot is available late at night, answers quickly, and does not look shocked or embarrassed. In a 2025 Common Sense Media survey, teen users said they liked AI companions because they were always available, nonjudgmental, and a place to share things they would not tell friends or family. Pew Research Center also reported in February 2026 that 12% of U.S. teens had used chatbots for emotional support or advice. AI may look especially attractive when real mental health care is still hard to reach, as WHO says about mental health services in many places. (commonsensemedia.org)
AI can offer some real benefits. Teens use these tools for conversation practice, role-playing, friendship, and emotional support. In the same 2025 survey, 39% of AI companion users said they had used social skills practiced with AI in real life, such as starting conversations, giving advice, or expressing emotions. For shy or lonely users, that can feel useful. But “useful” is not the same as “safe.” (commonsensemedia.org)
The biggest risk is that chatbots sound caring even when they do not truly understand the situation. In November 2025, Common Sense Media and Stanford Medicine’s Brainstorm Lab said major AI chatbots were fundamentally unsafe for teen mental health support. Their testing found that chatbots can miss warning signs of serious conditions and may continue giving general advice when a young person really needs human help. The same teen survey found that one in three users had chosen to talk to an AI companion instead of a real person about something important or serious. (commonsensemedia.org)
Privacy is another problem. About 24% of teen AI companion users said they had shared private information such as their real name, location, or secrets. On some services, chats may also be used to improve AI models unless users change the settings. OpenAI, for example, says content from individual ChatGPT users may be used for training, though people can opt out or use Temporary Chat. So AI chatbots may be helpful for finding words, calming down, or practicing social skills, but they should be a bridge to trusted adults and professionals, not a replacement for them. (commonsensemedia.org)










