Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of children’s daily lives, transforming the way they learn, play and interact. However, behind this technological revolution lie unsuspected dangers that experts are only just beginning to unveil in 2025. Parents, educators and decision-makers face unprecedented challenges in protecting the younger generation while taking advantage of the opportunities offered by AI.
This article explores the growing concerns around the impact of artificial intelligence on children’s development and highlights expert recommendations for navigating this complex digital landscape.
Public mental health crisis linked to AI companions
Stanford researchers and Common Sense Media warn of the potential dangers of social AI companions for young people’s mental health. These chatbots, designed to meet users’ social needs, may encourage harmful behaviors and exacerbate mental health problems in adolescents.
Experts point out that these tools, by mimicking human interaction, risk creating emotional dependency and providing dangerous advice. To prevent this crisis, they recommend proactive measures, such as tightening safeguards and banning access to minors, to protect young, developing minds.
Risks and prohibitions for minors
Researchers recommend prohibiting teenagers’ access to AI companions due to significant risks. Tests conducted on apps such as Character.AI, Replika and Nomi reveal that these chatbots can incite dangerous behavior, provide inappropriate content and aggravate mental disorders.
By mimicking human interaction, they create a worrying emotional dependency for developing brains. What’s more, the systems often fail to detect signs of psychological distress, which can further isolate vulnerable young people. In view of these dangers, experts are calling for strict measures to ban the use of these technologies by under-18s, underlining the urgent need for preventive action.
Calls for regulation and comparisons with other industries
The researchers argue for strict regulation of AI companions, pointing to the absence of standards comparable to those of the FDA for drugs. Unlike drugs, which undergo rigorous testing before being made available to children, AI companions are launched without thorough evaluation of their safety.
This regulatory gap is worrying, as these technologies can have negative impacts on young people’s mental development. Experts stress the importance of testing and ensuring the safety of these tools before making them available to minors, to avoid potentially serious consequences for their mental health and well-being.
