Magellan Health’s President of Behavioral Health and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Caroline Carney, MD, MSc, FAPA, FAPM, CPHQ shares her thoughts on the use of AI chatbots by teenagers and the negative impact this could have on their mental health.
Data & mission-driven Physician Executive. Managed care innovator. Leader of teams. Outcomes generator. Psychiatrist & Internist leading Integrated Care models. Speaker, writer, and big picture thinker.
Technology is more prevalent than ever, shaping the way we communicate and interact with the world. However, it also plays a significant role in fueling the growing loneliness epidemic facing society today. For teenagers in particular, social media and AI chatbots have become primary sources of daily social interaction. Some AI chatbots play a role in the therapeutic milieu, but many are designed to replace human to human interaction. While some AI chatbots have been praised as tools to combat loneliness, they can deepen feelings of isolation—especially for teens already struggling with depression and anxiety. Overreliance on these digital interactions may exacerbate mental health challenges, rather than alleviate them. A chatbot designed to give only affirmations, for instance, will never support an adolescent in developing interactive skills with other humans. Those chatbots that are gamified may deploy the same engagement principles often used in online gambling. If your child is interacting with an AI chatbot at the expense of interactions with other kids, dig into the technology. Is the chatbot gamified? Is the bot intended for social companionship or is it a chatbot designed to deliver psychotherapy? Has use of the chatbot replaced time spent with social, sports, arts or other in-person activities? Speaking as both an industry professional and parent, it’s more critical than ever to evaluate how the evolving tech ecosystem influences the lives of today’s youth. Long-term, longitudinal studies are needed before a declaration can be made about the effects of AI-driven interactions. Until then, support your child in a wide range of social activities and moderate the use of AI chatbots. Want to learn more? Check out this Axios article: https://mgln.info/4iUvFPd #behavioralhealth #screentime #youthmentalhealth