Almost half of children aged 11 to 17 have used AI for advice or emotional support, a survey has found.
The survey of 2,000 children across the UK found 43% had used the technology to discuss things such as relationships, exam stress and difficult emotions. But most said they’d rather talk to someone they knew if they were going through a tricky time.
Nearly six in 10 said they would turn to family or carers, while 18% would speak to their friends. Just 4% said they’d use AI.
The research, published by Barnardo’s and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), comes as children report struggles accessing mental health support.
Four in 10 children tried to get professional help in the previous year and of those, just 27% said they received the help they needed.
The report, titled Filling the Gap?, revealed children from lower-income background were more likely to face problems getting mental health support, but were less likely to use AI for help.
Abi, 19, claimed human contact was vital to good mental health. She said: ‘A lot of the problems are created by a lack of human connection but at the same time the only way to resolve them is through human connection. I think this is where AI is an issue.’
However, some young people said AI is useful when they don’t feel like they can talk to someone they know about how they’re feeling.
Saeed, 19, said: ‘I don’t really talk to anyone about how I feel, so I talked to AI. It told me to write it down in a book and then I moved on to the next thing. It has given me some good advice in that way. I also sometimes ask about things that I’m insecure about, but it always encourages me.’
Lynn Perry, chief executive of Barnardo’s, said their research shows ‘children aren’t choosing AI over people. They are turning to chatbots because the support they want and need from professionals is often difficult to access.’
‘That’s why we need greater investment in face-to-face mental health services – as well as the introduction of stronger safeguards and regulations for children turning to AI and chatbots for support,’ she added.
Agreeing with Perry, Meg Moss, head of public affairs and advocacy at the NCPS, said: ‘We know the system is struggling to meet demand, but young people have been clear in that the way to resolve that isn’t to replace human support with chatbots. They’ve told us they don’t want AI to be imposed on them as a substitute for the support they should have access to.’
The report can be read in full here.
Image: Jonathan Kemper/UnSplash
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