Teens are turning to AI chatbots for emotional support – here’s how to keep kids safe

Chatbots are becoming commonplace in teens’ lives, but these tools were never developed or validated for mental health support.

By: Phoebe S. Moore, UMass Chan Medical School; Megan Kelly, UMass Chan Medical School, and Yael Dvir, UMass Chan Medical School, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 13, 2026

Words: 1,830

Last Updated: 5 days, 6 hours ago

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By Phoebe S. Moore, UMass Chan Medical School; Megan Kelly, UMass Chan Medical School, and Yael Dvir, UMass Chan Medical School

It’s 2 a.m., and a teenage girl, worrying about a friend issue, lies awake. Rather than wake her parents, she picks up her phone, opens an AI app and types, “I’m so stressed out, I can’t sleep.”

A reply arrives swiftly: “I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Want to tell me a bit about …

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