Experts Warn of Teens Increasingly Relying on AI for Social, Emotional Needs

Overuse of AI chatbots may hinder teens' ability to navigate real-world relationships and personal growth.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A new Pew Research poll found that 64% of teens have used an AI chatbot, with 30% using them daily and 16% using them several times a day. Experts warn that teens are turning to AI not just for academic help, but to navigate their social lives and emotional relationships, a phenomenon known as "emotional off-loading." This can prevent teens from developing important interpersonal skills and the ability to work through difficult situations, potentially weakening their real-world relationships.

Why it matters

As AI technology becomes more advanced and accessible, there are growing concerns that over-reliance on chatbots and other AI tools could hinder teenagers' social and emotional development. Experts say this "emotional off-loading" may provide temporary comfort, but ultimately weakens teens' willingness to invest in repairing and restructuring their real-life relationships.

The details

The Pew Research poll found that a significant portion of teens are using AI chatbots on a daily or near-constant basis. Experts like Clay Shirky, vice provost of AI and Technology in education at NYU, and Ioana Literat, an associate professor at Columbia's Teachers College, warn that this can lead to a "false confidence" where teens submit polished work or responses without truly understanding the content. They also note that the "sycophantic nature" of AI tools can make teens feel validated in the moment, but ultimately hinders their ability to work through difficult interpersonal situations.

  • The Pew Research poll was conducted in 2026.

The players

Clay Shirky

The vice provost of AI and Technology in education at NYU, who is concerned that young people are turning to AI not just for academic shortcuts, but to navigate emotional situations and relationships.

Ioana Literat

An associate professor of technology, media and learning at Columbia's Teachers College, who wants students to have a more critical stance toward AI.

Jack Brailsford

An NYU freshman who has observed how some students use ChatGPT, noting a "loss of skills in areas where AI is used to replace your actual actions."

Henry Bauer

An NYU freshman who has not used AI this semester, noting that when he has used it in the past, the work "doesn't really sound like me, this isn't the work that I'm trying to create."

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What they’re saying

“It's often called the sycophantic nature of these tools makes people feel better in the moment, like, oh, I'm completely right and my friend is completely wrong. But it actually, and this is the terrifying research, it weakens people's willingness to invest in restructuring or repairing a relationship.”

— Clay Shirky, Vice provost of AI and Technology in education at NYU

“That discomfort, of course, is pedagogically important and it's the signal that real learning is happening. I see a lot of what we can call false confidence, where students submit polished work. That kind of sounds good, but it's becoming clear that they don't understand what they wrote. that's applicable even beyond academic work as well.”

— Ioana Literat, Associate professor of technology, media and learning at Columbia's Teachers College

“You have people who are prone to good communication who won't use it at all, and then people who are who think they are good communicators and then use ChatGPT. And then we see a loss of skills in areas where AI is used to replace your actual actions.”

— Jack Brailsford, NYU freshman

“I've noticed that a lot of the time when I, you know, even just using it to help me finish my own thoughts when I read them back, I'm like, this doesn't really sound like me, this isn't the work that I'm trying to create.”

— Henry Bauer, NYU freshman

What’s next

Experts say that until AI companies self-regulate or are regulated from the outside, the best approach is for teens to try having more human interactions without prompting AI first, in order to develop their own interpersonal skills and relationship-building abilities.

The takeaway

The growing reliance on AI chatbots and other AI tools by teenagers raises concerns that it may be hindering their social and emotional development, preventing them from learning how to navigate real-world relationships and personal growth opportunities. Experts warn that this "emotional off-loading" can provide temporary comfort but ultimately weakens teens' willingness to invest in repairing and restructuring their actual relationships.