Two in five Aussie parents say their kids use AI for emotional support
Aussie kids are increasingly beating loneliness by confiding in artificial intelligence chatbots – but there’s a dark side to their new AI “friends”.
Australian children are relying on AI “friends” for companionship, new research shows.
The 2025 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report: Connected Kids reveals how artificial intelligence is becoming part of children’s lives, with 40 per cent of parents suspecting their child is using the human intelligence technology for emotional support.
“We’re witnessing a generational shift in how children form relationships, express themselves, and seek support – and it’s increasingly shaped by digital tools, including AI,” Norton managing director Mark Gorrie said.
“We’re starting to see a lot of use around ChatGPT and other tools they use in schools such as Grammarly.
“But then there are AI companions available on gaming platforms or social media platforms which are increasing in usage for kids.”
ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Snapchat’s My AI and Character. AI are among the popular AI companions children are engaging, according to the report.
AI companions are chatbot apps designed to simulate personal relationships through human-like conversations, either via text or spoken word.
These chatbots adapt to input from people, learning to respond in ways that feel personal, with users often able to customise their behaviour or personality as they desire.
Designed to encourage ongoing interaction, using AI companions can feel addictive and lead to overuse and even dependency. There are currently more than 100 AI companions available, many of which are free and marketed for friendship.
While AI chatbots have their benefits, Mr Gorrie said it was important to exercise caution as they could potentially share harmful content and advice.
“They remember past interactions, so it becomes more like a friend-type experience,” he said.
“Unfortunately, they might be serving up responses the user wants to hear, not necessarily what’s the right thing to hear.
“There could be misinformation or manipulation, risks around deep fakes and scams, so you obviously need to be wary of all those things.”
Last year, Florida mother Megan Garcia sued Character. AI after her 14-year-old son, Sewell, killed himself.
She accused the company’s chatbots of exacerbating his depression after the teen developed an online relationship with a character on the app who frequently brought up his suicidal thoughts.
While AI companions offer support, Adelaide child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Huu Kim Le said it was important to be aware of the risks.
“AI companions can provide a lot of validation and give us attention in a very lonely and isolated world,” he said.
“However, we need to keep in mind that it’s programming, it’s data, it’s an algorithm and it’s coding.
“We need to be aware of what is real and what isn’t and that there are always side effects and that sometimes we just need a break.”
Got a story tip? Email education@news.com.au
More Coverage
Originally published as Two in five Aussie parents say their kids use AI for emotional support
Senior exams disrupted as teachers walk off the job
