Study warns teen reliance on AI chatbots may disrupt healthy relationship development
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Arizona State UniversityJun 29 2026Reviewed
Summary
Researchers from Arizona State University, writing in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, warn that teenagers' increasing reliance on AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Replika, Claude and Character.AI for emotional support and relationship advice could hinder their ability to develop healthy interpersonal skills. While the technology offers immediate, nonjudgmental guidance and has potential benefits, experts are concerned it may disrupt how young people learn to navigate friendships, family conflicts and romantic relationships.
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bskyStudy warns teen reliance on AI chatbots may disrupt healthy relationship developmentnews-medical.netKey quotes
· 3 pulledAI-powered conversational tools such as ChatGPT, Replika, Claude and Character.AI are becoming a common source of emotional support for teenagers.
Writing in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, researchers from Arizona State University say the technology offers immediate, nonjudgmental guidance and has potential to benefit
researchers are raising concerns that the technology could disturb how young people learn to navigate human relationships
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