Opinion: Teens are turning to chatbots for mental health help. We need rules to keep them safe
Why this matters: health reporting relevant to everyday decisions and well-being.
While parents, schools, and lawmakers are still debating the impact of social media on children’s mental health,&#x A0;a&#x A0;new technology has taken the therapist’s seat:&#x A0;AI&#x A0;chatbots.&#x A0; In research that my colleagues and I published recently in&#x A0;JAMA Pediatrics, we found that the share of young people using&#x A0;AI&#x A0;chatbots for mental health advice rose from about&#x A0;1 in 8 to about 1 in 5 in&#x A0;a&#x A0;single year — more than&#x A0;a&#x A0;40% increase. That finding should end any illusion that this is a speculative problem. For millions of adolescents, AI is already part of the mental health landscape.Read the rest…