Using AI chatbots can impact your teen's mental health. Here's what to do

Apr 2, 2026 · 21 min

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EP · Life Kit · Using AI chatbots can impact your teen's mental health. Here's what to do21:17

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0:00This is Ira Glass.

0:01On This American Life, we tell stories about when things change.

0:04Like for this guy, David, whose entire life took a sharp, unexpected, and very unpleasant turn.

0:10And it did take me a while to realize that it's basically because the monkey pressed the button.

0:15That's right.

0:16Because the monkey pressed the button.

0:19Surprising stories every week, wherever you get your podcasts.

0:24Hey, it's Marielle.

0:25Heads up.

0:25We mentioned suicide in this episode.

0:29This is NPR's Life Kit.

0:31I'm Marielle Segatva.

0:36A few times in recent memory, when I've had an uncomfortable conversation or a moment of tension, or I've been dealing with some interpersonal dilemma, I have told a chatbot about it.

0:48I don't even think I said, you know, what should I do?

0:51It was more like I typed in what happened and then the chatbot responded with some surprisingly helpful framing and ideas for how to recenter myself.

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