Researchers Warn AI Use Could Impede Teen Relationships
Peer-reviewed evidence on adolescent AI use may eventually inform age-targeted guardrails — relevant to APS teams working on online safety or youth-facing digital services.
Key points
- ASU researchers in The Lancet warn teen chatbot use may impede development of emotional and relational skills.
- Findings have limited direct APS relevance; most applicable to conversational AI product designers and youth-focused services.
- No regulatory action is attached - this is a concern paper calling for future design safeguards and longitudinal research.
Implications for Australian agencies
- Monitor Teams working on online safety, youth digital services, or AI ethics frameworks may want to monitor whether this research prompts regulatory responses domestically or in peer jurisdictions.
Implications are AI-generated. Starting points, not advice — see methodology for how they're framed.
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"Researchers Warn AI Use Could Impede Teen Relationships"
Source: Let's Data Science – AI Governance
Published: 30 June 2026
URL: https://letsdatascience.com/news/researchers-warn-ai-use-could-impede-teen-relationships-e0b31137
Researchers from Arizona State University, writing in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, report that teenagers increasingly turn to AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Replika, Claude and Character.AI for advice on friendships, family conflicts and romantic relationships. The authors warn that this reliance may reduce opportunities to practise emotional regulation, conflict resolution and perspective-taking. The paper calls for evaluation frameworks that extend beyond accuracy and toxicity to include developmental and relational outcomes, and flags that governance and policy are lagging behind the pace of technology adoption among young people.
Implications for Australian agencies:
- [Monitor] Teams working on online safety, youth digital services, or AI ethics frameworks may want to monitor whether this research prompts regulatory responses domestically or in peer jurisdictions.
Retrieved from SIMS, 18 July 2026.