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

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

From Life Kit: Parenting by NPR

April 2, 2026 · 21 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of AI chatbots on teen mental health and how parents can communicate about it safely.

Using chatbots for emotional support can pose risks to teens' mental health. How should parents talk to their teens about using chatbots safely? And what's the best way to have those conversations without causing conflict? On this episode, NPR's Rhitu Chatterjee speaks to experts about how to support your teen's mental health and talk to them about AI. Life Kit's episode on helping a child at risk of suicide . Follow us on Instagram: @nprlifekit Sign up for our newsletter here. Have an episode idea or feedback you want to share? Email us at lifekit@npr.org Support the show and listen to it sponsor-free by signing up for Life Kit+ at plus.npr.org/lifekit See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

People in this episode

Host: Rhitu Chatterjee

Topics covered

  • teen mental health
  • AI chatbots
  • parenting
  • emotional support
  • communication

Keywords

  • AI chatbots
  • teen mental health
  • parenting advice
  • emotional support
  • communication strategies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NPR

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