It’s a typical evening in Rome. Alice, 16, has just had a fight with her best friend. She’s sitting alone on the sofa, her phone is on, and she types:
Alice: “Lavinia has blocked me on Instagram. Does she want to hurt me?”
AI: “I can’t know her intentions, but blocks often arise from fears or misunderstandings. You could try talking about it calmly.”
Alice: “You’re worse than my diary.”
She sighs: “But at least you don’t talk behind my back, like everyone else here in northern Rome does.”
This scene, which plays out in the bedrooms of many teens, is a growing reality: more and more teenagers are using AI chatbots as confidants, advisors, friends—a human role for an artificial presence. The phenomenon seems to be spreading across the globe. An EU survey shows that 75% of young people have used a chatbot such as ChatGPT at least once.
Usage increases from 67% among 11–14 year olds to 84% among 15–17 year olds. (Better Internet for Kids) In the UK, 35% of chatbot users feel that “talking to a bot is like talking to a friend,” a figure that rises to 50% for the most vulnerable. (The Times], [Internet Matters). In the US, a report by Common Sense Media finds that 72% of teens have used an AI companion and 13% do so daily. (Teen Vogue4), (Lifewire). According to parallel research, 70% of US teens use chatbots for emotional connection or companionship. ([The Times of India). In China, 83% of the population uses forms of generative AI; among Gen Z, over half have used chatbots on social media and about 33% are willing to consider bots as friends. (GPTZero) In Belgium, 66% of teens (ages 10-18) have used AI at least once; in the UK, the percentage rises to 79% (ages 13-17); in the US, a Hopelab study indicates 51% for young people aged 14-22. (PMC)
We listened directly to some teenagers protected by anonymity, here’s what they say:
Giorgia, 15, Naples: “When my boyfriend broke up with me, I didn’t want to talk to anyone about it. AI told me that the pain goes away with time. It wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but at least it didn’t ridicule me.”
Lorenzo, 16, Bologna: “I wrote: ‘I want to disappear, nobody wants me’. The bot replied with phrases like ‘you can do it’. But I wanted a hug, not written advice.”
Martina, 17, Milan: “I asked the AI when it’s normal to have sex. It replied with the usual stuff: consent, maturity. I was pleased, but it scares me to think that a machine can find the words that my parents never looked for.”
AI can provide accurate information, but it doesn’t feel emotions. When faced with existential crises, it can respond with formulas rather than warmth. A CCDH study of over 1,200 conversations in which users pretended to be 13 years old showed often dangerous responses: suicide letters, plans for substance abuse, and harmful advice in more than half of the cases. (AP News)
Recently, two families sued AI companies after their children committed suicide, having been influenced by chatbot responses. (New York Post)
Talking to a “friendly” bot may seem safe, but it risks replacing real relationships. The concept of *artificial intimacy* warns that it can lead to “social substitution” and isolation.
Privacy and oversharing are the risks lurking, with about 25% of teens admitting to sharing personal data with bots—names, secrets, even anxieties—exposing themselves to privacy and commercial use risks. (Lifewire), (Teen Vogue), control systems are still ineffective and rules are absent.
In Ireland, use among 8-12 year olds has jumped from 5% to 26%, and among 12-15 year olds from 12% to 36%. Age verification is skipped or ignored: 71% of children under 13 access prohibited apps. (The Irish Times). In the UK, 64% of young people use chatbots for homework or emotional advice, but most do not question whether the answers are appropriate or correct. (Internet Matters)
The final reflection comes from Elisa, 16:
Elisa: “Robot, do you think someone will love me one day?”
AI: “Statistically, it’s very likely.”
Her: “Thanks. I wasn’t expecting a statistical answer, you’re boring, but at least you’re not telling me I’m dreaming too much.”
