An Internet Matters survey of 1,000 UK kids aged 9 to 17 finds 67% say they use AI chatbots regularly; of that group, 35% say it feels like talking to a friend
“Sometimes they can feel like a real person and a friend.” — Lonely children and teens are replacing real-life friendship with AI, and experts are worried.
Vast Numbers of Lonely Kids Are Using AI as Substitute friends... “do so because they don't have anyone else to speak to.” — This is profoundly disturbing. Chatbots and algorithms are designed to increase engagement for profit, not friendship. — futurism.com/lonely-child...
The obviously broken layer of this discourse—vulnerable people of all ages and identities are trying to bond with LLMs that can just as easily wish you harm as be of any comfort—shouldn't necessarily dwarf the other layer, which is ‘capitalism has structurally eroded healthy soci…
Really can't emphasize enough that Character.AI is a predatory company profiting off of vulnerable children and if you're a teacher using the platform - or other LLMs - to “talk” with fictional or historical figures just stop. [embedded post]