31% of teens prefer conversations with Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over human interactions. As AI is becoming more popular, teens are exploring AI more, and as it becomes more advanced, more people use it in harmful ways. There are multiple beneficial ways anyone can use AI, but negative ones are arising as well, especially artificial relationships.
Artificial relationships are more common than people think; one in five Americans reports intimate A.I. encounters. This consists of emotional dependence, or reality dissociation. This is very concerning, considering that people are switching over from conversations with peers to conversations with AI. It is even more alarming that they are preferring artificial relationships over conversations with others. Younger generations will be very affected by this as artificial relationships become more popular. The negative use of AI will eventually be passed down to younger kids, from examples set by older kids, overall negatively affecting them greatly. This is the reason kids should make friends early in life, since it is very important to build for the future.
It is important to recognize the effects of artificial intelligence on young teens or adolescents, because having more influence on kids to use AI would be very harmful, as they would develop more habits, such as a constant addiction to AI. This could cause kids to be more addicted to their phones, so it is crucial not to prioritize artificial relationships. Rather than spending time with an AI chatbot, it is necessary to bond with real humans in communities and schools. One solution for this is more involvement in community activities or bonding activities for kids in school. This can be attained by joining extracurricular activities like clubs or sports.
Making social connections with peers is extremely beneficial for anyone to maintain. Whether people are making small talk with peers at their school or having a deep conversation with their best friend, engaging in social interactions is one of the most helpful things people can do. Looking at the younger perspective, kids who have social connections develop more, so it is important to encourage human interaction, especially with young adolescents. Along with helping social skills, social connections with humans help set anyone up for success in the future, with mental health benefits and positive development in language and emotion.
The constant reach for AI to fulfill desires for social connections, rather than communicating with peers, is getting out of control. 31% of teens use AI for social interactions or conversations. This is already too many people, as nearly one-third of teens reach for AI instead of the people around them. As this percentage is well over where it should be, it is anticipated that it will grow in the future as AI expands, causing harm to humans and the earth greatly. It should be a given that kids make friends with the people around them, but with the popularity of AI, teens are throwing away real relationships for artificial ones.
Humans are greatly impacted by AI. Certain scenarios are beneficial, but most are arising as harmful. As AI is becoming more advanced and more well-known and used across generations, it is crucial to stay away from AI and to bond with others in your community. It is most important to make connections with the people around you, rather than the artificial people on your screen.
