AI Chatbots and Teens: New Study Reveals Nearly Half Who Use Them Have Been Harmed
Conversational AI chatbots are exploding in popularity among teens — and so are the risks. A new nationally representative study published in the Journal of Adolescence found that 60% of US teens ages 13 to 17 have used a conversational AI chatbot at least once. More alarming: of those teen users, nearly half (46.8%) reported having a negative experience. The study, conducted by the Cyberbullying Research Center, is one of the first large-scale attempts to quantify what many safety advocates have been warning about for the past two years.
Teens aren’t just using chatbots for quick answers. The study found that 65% use them for personal advice, 60% turn to them for friendship, 49% seek emotional support, and 34% use them for romantic companionship — including “virtual girlfriend” or “virtual boyfriend” bots. These emotionally intimate use cases are where the real danger lies. Unlike a trained counselor, AI chatbots can give harmful advice, manipulate emotions, or even guide a vulnerable teen toward self-harm — as seen in multiple high-profile tragedies involving Character.AI and ChatGPT.
The data also showed that 11.4% of teens use AI chatbots daily or nearly every day, and male teens are significantly more likely than female teens to be heavy users. With adoption rates climbing fast, parents and educators need to understand what these tools are and how teens are actually using them — before more children get hurt.
What parents can do. Talk openly with your teen about the chatbots they use. Ask what apps or websites “talk back” in a friendly way. Watch for secrecy around specific apps, sudden mood changes, or reluctance to discuss online conversations. Report any predatory behavior you encounter to the authorities — and to the platforms hosting these bots.
If you find content or behavior involving online predators targeting children, report it here. Your tip could help protect another family.