š² AI Chatbots Are Now Teen Confidants
Itās a strange new world, and weāre raising digital natives in the thick of it. In this edition:
š² Pew Research reveals teens rely more on chatbots and YouTube than ever before
š§ 1 in 8 teens now talk to AI chatbots for mental health support
š Deepfakes of real doctors are spreading health lies across social media
š° News deserts leave 50 million Americans uninformed
š« Massachusetts maps a statewide media literacy roadmap
šŗ Experts predict AI-driven newsrooms by 2026
Teen Life Online: Chatbots Join Social Media as Daily Companions
A new Pew Research Center survey of 1,458 U.S. teens reveals significant shifts in how young people interact with digital platforms. Social media remains a daily fixture, but AI chatbots are emerging as a powerful new layer of interaction ā from homework help to creative inspiration, and even companionship.
Key Points:
Roughly two-thirds of teens (64%) report using AI chatbots, with about 30% engaging daily. ChatGPT dominates usage (59%), while other tools like Gemini, Meta AI, and Character.ai trail behind.
Nearly nine-in-ten teens use YouTube, and three-quarters visit it daily, cementing its role as the most universal platform.
WhatsApp usage rose from 17% in 2022 to 24% in 2025, marking one of the few platforms with notable gains.
X (formerly Twitter) dropped from 23% in 2022 to 16% today. Facebook, once dominant at 71% in 2014ā15, now hovers around 31%, stable compared to 2022 but far below its peak.
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Teens Turn to AI Chatbots for Mental Health Support
A recent RAND Corporation study finds that about 1 in 8 adolescents and young adults in the U.S. (ages 12ā21) report using AI chatbots for mental health advice. These tools, from mainstream generative AI apps to emerging companions, are becoming part of how young people seek guidance when feeling sad, angry, or nervous.
The report highlights that many users turn to chatbots for emotional support and problem solving, especially when they feel unsure about where to go next or how to express themselves. While some find these tools empowering, experts caution that overreliance could erode critical thinking if AI responses are treated as unquestioned truth.
This reality places a spotlight on digital education and safeguards: helping teens balance curiosity with caution, and pairing AIās convenience with human judgment. As artificial intelligence becomes woven into daily routines, understanding its role ā and limits ā is essential for young and old alike.
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AI Deepfakes of Real Doctors Flood Social Media
AIās power isnāt just about helpful tools ā itās also fueling misuse. Full Fact has uncovered hundreds of AIāgenerated videos that use real doctorsā likenesses to promote unverified health products on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, X, and YouTube. These deepfakes manipulate genuine footage and audio so that respected medical professionals appear to endorse supplements and treatments without scientific backing.
The implications are serious. Health misinformation can influence real decisions about wellābeing, particularly if viewers assume trusted medical voices are speaking truth. Experts are calling for stronger platform moderation and faster removal of such content, even as debates continue about how best to balance free expression with public safety in a world of synthetic media.
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Fifty Million Americans Lose Local News Access
Americaās local news ecosystem is shrinking. A Medill School of Journalism report shows that the number of U.S. counties with no reliable local news source has risen, and about 50āÆmillion people now live in communities with limited or no access to local newspapers, websites, or broadcasters. Thatās up from around 37āÆmillion two decades ago.
The crisis is driven by ongoing newspaper closures, with more than 130 shut down just this past year and continued job losses across the industry. While digital news startups are emerging, most serve urban areas, leaving rural regions especially underserved. With local news thinning out, coverage of critical community issues like schools, public safety, and local government may remain weak at a time when informed citizenry matters most.
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Massachusetts Maps Media Literacy Education Roadmap
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education partnered with Media Literacy Now to conduct a comprehensive study of media literacy education, surveying 1,275 educators and consulting 97 national experts. The research revealed that educators prioritize studentsā ability to analyze and evaluate information sources as the most critical media literacy skill, followed by understanding the benefits and risks of technology.
The study found significant opportunities to integrate media literacy in elementary settings, with experts confirming that half of all media literacy topics can be taught before middle school, making early intervention both feasible and essential for developing critical thinking skills.
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Media Experts Predict AI Dominance in 2026 Journalism
Looking ahead, experts are forecasting the big shifts that could define 2026 across news, technology, and society. The Nieman Lab forecasts continued tension between technology innovation and trust, from how AI shapes content discovery to how audiences continue to fragment across platforms.
Key Points:
AI writing capabilities will surpass human journalists in volume and potentially quality
Newsrooms will turn into talent hubs focused on vertical video content creation
Community-rooted journalism will gain recognition as foundation for rebuilding public trust
These predictions signal a fundamental shift in how news operates, requiring journalists to adapt skills while emphasizing human connection.
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