© 2025 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

As more teens use AI chatbots, parents and lawmakers sound the alarm about dangers

By Rhitu Chatterjee
Published October 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM MDT

Nearly 1/3 of teens say they use chatbots for roleplaying romantic and sexual relationships. But some parents and digital safety experts warn that these apps can put teens at risk of suicide.

Copyright 2025 NPR
Rhitu Chatterjee
Rhitu Chatterjee is a health correspondent with NPR, with a focus on mental health. In addition to writing about the latest developments in psychology and psychiatry, she reports on the prevalence of different mental illnesses and new developments in treatments.
See stories by Rhitu Chatterjee

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.

Donate