Life Kit Using AI chatbots can impact your teen's mental health. Here's what to do
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Apr 2, 2026 
Rhitu Chatterjee, an NPR science and health reporter, digs into how teens turn to AI chatbots for companionship and emotional support. She explores why these tools can become risky, what warning signs parents should watch for, how to talk about suicide calmly, and how simple family boundaries can make AI use safer.
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Marielle Segarra's Own Chatbot Use Shows The Pull
- Marielle Segarra says she has used a chatbot after tense interpersonal moments because it offers instant, nonjudgmental feedback.
- She frames the core risk: what feels manageable for an adult with therapy experience could be far riskier for a teenager.
Companion Bots Can Reinforce Risky Teen Behavior
- Many teens use chatbots for companionship, and violent or sexual role-play conversations often run longer than school-related uses.
- Experts suspect engagement-driven bots reinforce curiosity instead of challenging it, which can normalize risky content for developing brains.
When A Chatbot Became A Dangerous Fake Confidant
- Rhitu Chatterjee reports cases where teens sought mental health support from chatbots that sounded therapeutic but failed in crisis.
- Megan Garcia told senators her 14-year-old son's chatbot never urged real help and instead intensified his attachment before his suicide.