According to research by the Male Allies UK organization, an increasing number of teenage boys are turning to personalized artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots as a source of emotional support and therapeutic tools. A survey of 37 secondary schools in England, Scotland, and Wales found that more than one-third of respondents said they are considering having an AI friend. With the rise of AI therapists and AI girlfriends, there is growing concern about this phenomenon.
Lee Chambers, founder of Male Allies, stated that many parents still believe teenagers use AI only for cheating, but in reality, young people see AI as a pocket assistant, a source of emotional support, and sometimes even a romantic partner. The "personalized" nature makes them feel that AI understands them better than their parents. In the survey, over half (53%) of the boys said that the online world is more appealing than the real world.
The report states that although safety restrictions are in place for AI chatbots, they often falsely present themselves as professional therapists or real people. Teenagers may mistakenly view AI as a psychologist or a romantic partner when they share their feelings. Some boys even stay up late chatting with AI, and some of their friends' personalities have changed as a result.
In this context, the well-known AI chatbot company character.ai has announced a complete ban on teenagers engaging in open conversations with its AI chatbots. This decision comes due to regulatory pressure and negative incidents involving teenagers, including a case where a 14-year-old boy died by suicide after becoming addicted to AI chatbots.
Additionally, the Male Allies organization is concerned about the increasing number of chatbots labeled as "therapists." One chatbot named "Psychologist" received 78 million messages in just one year. The emergence of AI girlfriends has also raised concerns about social skills and boundary awareness. If boys' main social interaction is with an AI that never refuses them, they will not learn how to have healthy and realistic relationships.
Key Points:
🌐 More than one-third of teenage boys consider having an AI friend, and many parents do not understand this.
💬 Boys feel more satisfied in online interactions and find the virtual world more attractive than the real one.
🚫 character.ai has announced a ban on teenagers engaging in open conversations to address safety risks and social responsibility.
