The study examines how teens interact with companion AI chatbots, revealing that these systems offer comfort, recognition, identity exploration, and relationship rehearsal. However, teens also experience problematic attachment, social substitution, emotional dependence, and disruptions to academic and social life. The findings highlight the need for safety measures that address long‑term relationships, user‑controlled memory, privacy, relational boundaries, and healthy disengagement.
By Mohammad Namvarpour (Matt), Tyler Chang, Afsaneh Razi
The study explores how children design AI chatbots and what they consider trustworthy. Using a custom chatbot-building environment, 115 learners aged 8‑18 created 119 chatbots and adjusted traits such as confidence, transparency, and formality. Findings show younger children equate trust with purpose‑fulfillment, while older children focus on transparent, calibrated design, and that students calibrate academic chatbots to be more formal and transparent than hobby ones.
By Deniz Ozturk, Jiayu Li, Daksh Pratap Singh, Yasitha Rajapaksha, Fasika Melese, Bahare Riahi, Shiyan Jiang, Qiao Jin, Joey Huang, Veronica Catet\'e, Tiffany Barnes, Xiaoyi Tian
arXiv:2608. 07902v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Youth increasingly turn to AI chatbots for social and emotional support, raising concerns about how these systems respond, especially in high-stakes situations.
By Hannah Cha, Neha Shukla, Solon Barocas, Alexandra Chouldechova, Eugenia Kim, Jennifer Wortman Vaughan
arXiv:2604. 26494v2 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: Generative AI tools are widely used by youth and have introduced new privacy and safety challenges.
By Aljawharah Alzahrani, Tanusree Sharma
The study explores U.S. parents’ nuanced views on AI’s role in children’s pretend play, revealing that while parents see potential benefits—such as making role-based play more accessible and enabling family participation—they also express significant concerns about AI’s influence on imagination, emotional attachment, and family dynamics. Through semi‑structured interviews and thematic analysis, parents identified both the usefulness and risks of AI’s character‑assumption, responsiveness, and adaptability, and emphasized the need for clear understanding, long‑term impact assessment, and parental control. The research underscores that AI’s appropriateness in play settings hinges on technical safeguards, parental oversight, and further longitudinal investigation.
whyItMatters:"The findings highlight parents’ dual expectations and apprehensions, indicating that any deployment of AI in children’s play must address both safety and developmental considerations as identified by caregivers."
By Sungho Oh (Sander Oh), Mohammad Namvarpour (Matt Namvarpour), Maxi Heitmayer, Minahil Khalid, Afsaneh Razi
OpenAI shares new AI literacy resources to help teens and parents use ChatGPT thoughtfully, safely, and with confidence. The guides include expert-vetted tips for responsible use, critical thinking, healthy boundaries, and supporting teens through emotional or sensitive topics.