Australian kids turning to AI chatbots for emotional support
About half of Australian children aged 10-17 use AI for personal and social advice. This raises concerns about replacing human support.
Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett warned that AI chatbots are not enough to replace human support for children. An Adelaide University study found more than one in three Australian children turn to AI chatbots for support when sexually victimised online.
Sometimes nobody else knows. Around half of children aged ten to seventeen who use AI turn to it for advice on personal matters.
This includes sensitive topics and emotional support. The risk is chatbots lack full context of a child's life.
They cannot provide the thoughtful guidance parents offer. Experts say parents should explore AI tools with their children.
They should talk openly about the technology's limits.
- Around half aged 10-17
- Children using AI for personal reasons
- More than one in three
- Sexually victimised children using
Why it mattersChildren who over-rely on AI may miss crucial human connection. They might receive poor advice on sensitive topics.
AustraliaAustralian parents need strategies to help children use AI safely for learning while maintaining human relationships and seeking human support for serious issues.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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