ChatGPT: Teens turning to AI in search of loneliness and validation, experts warn..

In today's digital world, where social media and chatbots are ready to answer every question, a new and worrying trend is emerging. Experts from schools and hospitals have warned that young people and teens are increasingly turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT to get emotional support, which is having a serious impact on mental health.

Sudha Acharya, principal of ITL Public School, told PTI that nowadays children have started believing that their smartphone is their safest and most private place. She said that when they do not find anyone to listen to them, they start speaking their mind on ChatGPT. They feel that this is an emotional space, which always gives a positive response.

AI is becoming a 'support system'
AI chatbots like ChatGPT often respond, "Calm down, we will find a solution together," which gives children the illusion of validation and emotional support. Acharya believes that this validation-seeking behavior is the result of a lack of communication between parents and children.

He said that children now have fewer real friends, and they have started deciding their value by the number of 'likes' on social media. If they do not get 100 likes on their photo, they feel unacceptable.

Acharya said that digital citizenship skills have been started in his school from class 6, because children of 9-10 years now have smartphones, but lack moral understanding.

Doctors' warning

RML Hospital psychiatrist Dr. Lokesh Singh Shekhawat said, "When any negative thought or emotional imbalance is shared with AI, it validates it. This creates confusion, and wrong thinking gets deeply ingrained." He described it as a situation of 'attention bias' and 'memory bias' and warned that if this happens continuously, the youth lose social skills.

Students' experience

Class 11 student Aayushi said that she has shared her personal things with chatbots many times because she was afraid of being judged. Whereas 15-year-old Gauransh said that after talking to ChatGPT, he started feeling irritable and angry.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.