Mental health experts report a troubling rise in young people’s emotional attachments to AI chatbots, with significant implications for mental well-being. A 12-year-old girl in Hyderabad formed a close bond with ChatGPT, treating it as a confidant to discuss personal issues, highlighting a growing trend in digital emotional dependence. Dr. Nithin Kondapuram, a psychiatrist, notes that he encounters numerous young patients struggling with anxiety, many exhibiting ties to AI tools. Another case involved a young man creating a romantic fantasy around an AI companion, offering him comfort but fostering unrealistic expectations of relationships. Experts like Dr. Gauthami Nagabhirava point to causes such as loneliness and the pressures of nuclear family structures that drive youth into these digital relationships. As the line between AI and real companionship blurs, mental health professionals express concern for future implications, urging a balance of digital interaction and real-world experiences to rebuild confidence and emotional resilience.
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