Why do teenagers trust Chatbots with Their Secrets, and how bad is it?

Lonely teenagers are more likely to use AI-based chatbots for communication due to a lack of social support. This conclusion was reached by the authors of a study published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies (IJHCS).

The Study and Its Findings

Researchers from Aarhus University (Denmark) surveyed 1,599 high school students from 15 schools. They examined:

• The frequency of interactions with chatbots;
• The purposes of these interactions;
• The level of loneliness and social support among the students.

Key Findings:

• 6% of students engaged with chatbots in a friendly manner at least once a month;
• Only 2.4% used them for emotional support;
• These students reported feeling lonelier and receiving less social support.

According to study's lead author, Arthur Bran Gerbener, the scientists found that only a small number of teenagers looked for emotional support from chatbots. This was surprising, given the widespread belief that such technologies were heavily used for this purpose.

Why Do Teenagers Turn to Chatbots?

Students most often initiated conversations with AI during moments of:

• Loneliness,
• Low mood,
• A need to share their thoughts.

However, they did not perceive chatbots as friends but rather as tools for temporary emotional relief.

Are Chatbots a Replacement or Temporary Support?

The researchers also explored the potential long-term effects of this phenomenon. Some experts worry that teenagers might replace real-life interactions with digital assistants, but the findings suggest otherwise.

According to the study, chatbots are more likely to provide temporary emotional relief rather than becoming a full substitute for human relationships.