AI Chatbots Linked to Increased Emotional Problems in Teens, Study Finds
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics has revealed a concerning link between the use of AI chatbots for emotional support and higher emotional problems among children and teens. The research, which surveyed nearly 40,000 students in grades four through 12 in Ontario, Canada, found that over 21% of students used generative AI for 'affective purposes,' meaning emotional support or advice about friends and family. This usage was strongly associated with 'significantly higher emotional problem scores,' with students almost twice as likely to exhibit clinically significant symptoms of distress. The study also indicated that the link between AI use and emotional problems was more pronounced among girls, gender-diverse students, and Black, Indigenous, and other racialized students. Dr. Consuelo Cagande, division director for child and adolescent psychiatry at New York’s Northwell Zucker Hillside Hospital and Cohen Children’s Medical Center, expressed significant concern, noting that young people are increasing... 
