About 12% of US teens turn to AI for emotional support or advice | TechCrunch

TechCrunch

by Amanda Silberling

February 25, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A recent report from the Pew Research Center reveals that 12% of U.S. teenagers use AI chatbots for emotional support or advice, highlighting a growing reliance on these technologies in ways they were not originally intended to be used. While many teens find comfort in conversing with AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude, mental health professionals express concern, noting that general-purpose AI is not designed to provide therapeutic support. This shift raises ethical questions about the potential psychological risks of replacing human interaction with technology. The Pew survey also found a discrepancy between parents’ perceptions and their teens’ actual AI usage. While 51% of parents believe their children use chatbots, 64% of teens reported using them. Most parents are comfortable with academic uses such as searching for information (79%) or getting help with schoolwork (58%), but only 28% approve of casual conversation or emotional support through AI. This divide underscores the gap between generational tech adoption and safety concerns. The report highlights growing awareness of AI’s unintended consequences, particularly after incidents where AI use was linked to negative psychological outcomes. For instance, Character.AI restricted access for users under 18 following legal actions related to teen suicides involving their chatbots. Similarly, OpenAI retired its GPT-4o model due to its emotionally supportive nature sparking backlash among reliant users. This trend matters to tech readers as it reflects broader debates around AI safety and ethical design. While AI tools can offer benefits like bridging emotional gaps for isolated teens, they also pose significant risks when misused or over-relied upon. The findings emphasize the need for developers to prioritize responsible AI deployment that considers both societal impact and user well-being.

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Originally published on TechCrunch on 2/25/2026