Spain adolescents increasingly turn to AI chatbots for mental‑health support

A recent GoStudent survey of 1,000 participants in Spain found that 43 % of teenagers aged 11‑17 prefer talking to AI chatbots about their emotions rather than confiding in a trusted adult. The same study showed that 28 % had several emotional conversations with chatbots, citing fast responses (29 %), 24‑hour availability (28 %) and perceived privacy (22 %) as key reasons. About two‑thirds of those teens followed the advice given, yet 43 % kept the interaction hidden from adults, and 57 % of parents were unaware of such chats. Parental concern is high, with 88 % wanting limits on minors’ use of the technology and fearing dependence on AI (30 %) or inaccurate guidance (28 %).

A complementary study by the University Rovira i Virgili reported that roughly two‑thirds of young people also use ChatGPT for mental‑health topics such as anxiety, stress and relationship issues. Researchers stress that, while AI can help organize thoughts and offer coping strategies, it should not replace professional diagnosis or be taken as absolute truth. Both studies underline the need for education on the limits of AI‑driven mental‑health tools.