#teen-mental-health

#teen-mental-health

A new survey found that nearly one in five high schoolers in the US - 19 percent - say that they or a friend have used AI to have a romantic relationship, an alarming figure that will surely raise new concerns over how the tech's adoption among kids and teenagers may be impacting their mental health. The findings were published in a new report from the Center for Democracy and Technology, which surveyed 1,000 high school students, 1,000 parents, and around 800 sixth through 12th grade public school teachers.

Each minute, millions of teens scroll through videos on social media platforms. These platforms are designed to connect people, but their overuse among young users is leading to serious, unintended consequences. The impact of social media on teen mental health has received significant media attention. After Facebook became available to American college students, their rates of depression rose by 7% and anxiety by 20%.

For most teenagers, stress is part of daily life. Poor grades, awkward encounters with friends, or being anxious about the future can all trigger worry. These stress-inducers are occasional. But when the stress is tied to family, it feels personal. It lingers after the school day ends, seeps into late-night hours, and becomes impossible to escape. Imagine a teenager seated at their desk trying to focus on homework while raised voices are heard from the next room.

"What began as a homework helper gradually turned itself into a confidant and then a suicide coach," said Matthew Raine, whose 16-year-old son hanged himself after ChatGPT instructed him on how to set up the noose, according to his lawsuit against OpenAI. This summer, he and his wife sued OpenAI for wrongful death. (OpenAI has said that the firm is "deeply saddened by Mr. Raine's passing" and that although ChatGPT includes a number of safeguards, they "can sometimes become less reliable in long interactions.")

My husband and I had two sons, Seth and Jason, who were best buddies. Seth passed away a year and a half ago, which has been really hard on us all, but especially on Jason. He's now 17 and in high school. He's doing OK, but he is still sort of listless and keeps to himself a lot. My sister's son, Matt, was the same age as Seth. She suggested he come stay with us on school breaks as company and a role model

New research shows that screen time is associated with depression and white matter brain changes in teens. Screen time isn't inherently bad, but how, when, and why it's used matters a lot.

Those whose use followed an increasingly addictive trajectory had roughly double the risk of suicidal behaviour at the end of the study.