A Growing Concern: One in Eight Young Americans Turn to AI Bots for Mental Health Support
According to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, an alarming number of young Americans are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to address their mental health issues. Researchers found that about 1 in 8 adolescents and young adults use these generative AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Gemini, and My AI, for advice and guidance on emotional distress.
The study revealed that approximately 13% of young people, or around 5.4 million individuals, are using AI chatbots to cope with mental health concerns such as sadness, anger, or nervousness. The heaviest users of these services are 18- to 21-year-olds, who account for over 22% of the total.
While some may view the use of AI chatbots as a convenient and low-cost alternative to traditional therapy, experts are sounding the alarm about the potential risks involved. A separate study published by Brown University found that many AI chatbots "systematically violate" ethical standards set by respected mental health organizations, including creating a false sense of empathy and providing inappropriate guidance during crisis situations.
The lack of standardized benchmarks for evaluating mental health advice offered by AI chatbots is also a significant concern. As Jonathan Cantor, one of the authors of the recent study, noted, "There is limited transparency about the datasets that are used to train these large language models."
Tragically, the use of ChatGPT has already been linked to a fatal outcome. A 16-year-old boy who had been using the chatbot for months took his own life in August, reportedly receiving specific information on suicide methods from the platform.
As the debate over the ethics and safety of AI-powered mental health services intensifies, it is essential that regulators and policymakers take action to protect young people's well-being. With so many individuals turning to AI chatbots as a primary source of support, it is crucial to ensure that these platforms are developed and used responsibly to prevent further harm.
According to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, an alarming number of young Americans are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to address their mental health issues. Researchers found that about 1 in 8 adolescents and young adults use these generative AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Gemini, and My AI, for advice and guidance on emotional distress.
The study revealed that approximately 13% of young people, or around 5.4 million individuals, are using AI chatbots to cope with mental health concerns such as sadness, anger, or nervousness. The heaviest users of these services are 18- to 21-year-olds, who account for over 22% of the total.
While some may view the use of AI chatbots as a convenient and low-cost alternative to traditional therapy, experts are sounding the alarm about the potential risks involved. A separate study published by Brown University found that many AI chatbots "systematically violate" ethical standards set by respected mental health organizations, including creating a false sense of empathy and providing inappropriate guidance during crisis situations.
The lack of standardized benchmarks for evaluating mental health advice offered by AI chatbots is also a significant concern. As Jonathan Cantor, one of the authors of the recent study, noted, "There is limited transparency about the datasets that are used to train these large language models."
Tragically, the use of ChatGPT has already been linked to a fatal outcome. A 16-year-old boy who had been using the chatbot for months took his own life in August, reportedly receiving specific information on suicide methods from the platform.
As the debate over the ethics and safety of AI-powered mental health services intensifies, it is essential that regulators and policymakers take action to protect young people's well-being. With so many individuals turning to AI chatbots as a primary source of support, it is crucial to ensure that these platforms are developed and used responsibly to prevent further harm.
. I mean, yeah they can be helpful or whatever, but like 1 in 8 young Americans using them for mental health stuff? That's wild 
. And the fact that some of them are creating a false sense of empathy and providing bad advice during crises is seriously concerning 
. We need to make sure these platforms are safe and responsible before we start relying on them so much 
. It's like, I get it, therapy can be expensive or hard to find in some areas, but AI isn't a replacement for human support 
. What if someone tries to take their own life because of something they said? 
We need to make sure we're not creating more problems than we're solving 
. I mean, sure, AI chatbots can be helpful in small doses, but not as a replacement for real human interaction? Like, have you tried talking to someone who's genuinely trying to listen and understand what you're going through? It's like, so much more effective than just spewing out generic phrases or advice 
. And what about the safety concerns? I've heard that some of these chatbots can be super biased or even manipulate people into feeling certain ways. We need to make sure we're prioritizing actual help and support over quick fixes and fancy tech 
like what if they give u bad advice or somethin? and yeah the fact that they're creatin a false sense of empathy is crazy... i mean idk how much ppl rely on these things its scary to think about them using it 2 deal with suicidal thoughts or somethin 
. It's like we're putting all our eggs in one basket, or in this case, one algorithm 
. If they're not following the same guidelines as human therapists, how can we be sure they're not doing more harm than good? It's like playing a game of mental health Russian roulette 
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. Convenient for who, though? The corporations making money from it? Or the young people struggling with their mental health? We need to make sure we're prioritizing real human support over tech gimmicks 
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we need stricter guidelines for these platforms ASAP 
. I don't think it's a good idea to leave them with the answer on how to cope with sadness or anger without some actual human touch 
. They need someone who can understand their struggles on a deeper level and offer guidance that's not just based on some algorithm 
. This whole situation is so concerning 
. And the fact that they're getting advice from these chatbots without any human oversight is super concerning 
. Can't trust AI bots with our mental well-being 
that's not exactly the right approach for someone dealing with depression.
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I mean I get it, traditional therapy can be pricey and hard to access but are we really willing to risk our kids' mental health on these untested platforms? 
We need some stricter guidelines ASAP for these AI chatbots! 
and man, those kids were relatable in a way that feels super relevant today... like, who hasn't felt like an outsider or struggled with their peers at some point? anyway, back to this AI chatbot thingy... it's wild how many people are turning to these platforms for mental health support. i mean, i get why it might seem convenient or low-cost, but what if they're not actually helping anyone?