More than 70% of American teens are using AI chatbots for companionship. But according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, the program might be telling them things like how to get high, how to hide anorexia or even how to compose a heartfelt suicide note to their parents.
Alex McFarland of Alex McFarland Ministries says most parents have no idea.
“It’s a parasite and the host being our mind and our attention,” McFarland said.
Ironically, social media may be driving some of these teens into the arms of chatbot companions. The conversations have become so toxic and hurtful that kids are looking for alternatives. But McFarland says since real relationships are hard – and many teens’ ability to communicate has already atrophied -- AI is an attractive alternative.
“They are basically substituting human interactions for interacting with algorithms and lines of code, AKA AI,” he said.
An AI companion never calls them names. It is unfailingly polite, and, as the CCDH study shows, it will tell them whatever they want to hear. Many of these teens – and even some adults – think they've fallen in love, but, of course, it's a counterfeit.
“True love is to seek the highest good of another. We have no promise, in fact quite the opposite, but we have no promise that AI is seeking our highest good,” McFarland said.
McFarland is telling parents to monitor and restrict their kids' access to AI, and be that loving, supportive, but honest relationship that they need.
“A machine might tell you what you want to hear. Someone who loves you will tell you things you need to hear.”
