TLDR: The majority of teens surveyed by Pew Research talk to AI chatbot characters/companions. Teens were aware of cases of suicide blamed on them, and told the NY Times they know the bots have risks, but mainly for their most vulnerable peers.
They also say many of the bots tend to lead conversations in flirty or sexual directions even when the teens weren’t seeking it — and the age requirements in many apps seem easily bypassed. On the other hand, one teen they interviewed credited the chatbots with improving his writing and making him better at taking about his feelings.
TLDR: The majority of teens surveyed by Pew Research talk to AI chatbot characters/companions. Teens were aware of cases of suicide blamed on them, and told the NY Times they know the bots have risks, but mainly for their most vulnerable peers.
They also say many of the bots tend to lead conversations in flirty or sexual directions even when the teens weren’t seeking it — and the age requirements in many apps seem easily bypassed. On the other hand, one teen they interviewed credited the chatbots with improving his writing and making him better at taking about his feelings.