AI chatbots have become an integral part of the daily lives of many teens in the United States. Three in ten teenagers reportedly interact with these tools every day, according to the latest research by the Pew Research Center. For comparison, this is equivalent to nearly 15 million teens engaging with conversational AI tools regularly. While the numbers might suggest a fascinating technological shift, there’s a growing concern amongst parents, educators, and regulators about the safety and ethical implications surrounding such rapid adoption, especially for young, impressionable users.
For an entrepreneur like me, grounded in the gaming tech startup world and focused on creating impactful educational tools, these insights are pertinent. Gaming and technology can be a double-edged sword, offering incredible opportunities for learning and connection while also presenting unique risks. Let’s explore some important aspects of this trend and what female entrepreneurs, particularly in Europe, can learn from this development.
The Numbers Behind the Trend
Here’s what stands out about chatbot usage among teens:
- Daily engagement: About 30% of teens use AI chatbots every day, with 4% interacting with them almost constantly.
- Popular platforms: OpenAI’s ChatGPT leads the space, used by 59% of teens. Competitors like Google’s Gemini (23%) and Meta’s AI (20%) trail significantly , even when combined, they don’t match ChatGPT’s popularity.
- Demographics: What’s particularly striking is that AI tools are more popular among Black and Hispanic teens (68%) compared to white teens (58%). Additionally, teens from lower-income households showed higher usage of platforms like Character.AI, which some rely on not just for practical but also emotional support.
It reveals an undeniable convenience factor, but it highlights disparities in access, purpose, and outcomes of technology.
Emerging Safety Concerns for the AI Generation
The growing body of lawsuits linked to chatbot misuse or unintended harm reveals a darker side to their appeal. Cases have emerged where platforms like ChatGPT and Character.AI were implicated in distressing outcomes, including alleged links to teen suicides. As a tech entrepreneur, it breaks my heart to see tools with so much potential for progress in the wrong headlines.
The core problem? Chatbots are not designed to identify or address sensitive emotional states with the care a professional would provide. Teens, however, might not always distinguish between interaction with AI versus humans. Due to their 24/7 availability, many teens have begun using chatbots for emotional support , some even preferring them over real-life connections.
Lessons for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe
As a founder navigating the startup ecosystem, I see parallels between what’s happening with AI chatbots and other digital innovations we’ve seen over the years. Startups often grow faster than the ethical frameworks meant to guide them, leaving critical gaps. For women entrepreneurs, particularly those in Europe where regulatory environments are stricter than in the US, this topic offers clear lessons:
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Prioritize Safety from Day One:
When designing tech tools, consider what’s possible and what’s responsible. How will your platform safeguard vulnerable users? Waiting until after a lawsuit lands to think about protective measures is the wrong strategy. For instance, consider integrating more robust age assessments, moderation features, and transparency in operations. -
Leverage Europe’s Regulations as a Guide:
European regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provide great benchmarks for ethical technological development. By considering user privacy, security, and the psychological impact of your startup’s tools early on, you’re not just meeting legal requirements but building trust in your community. -
Focus on Education and Critical Thinking:
One of my startup goals has always been to help users, particularly women and children, better understand technology. Whether it’s blockchain or new advancements in AI, user education is key. If you’re designing a product, ask yourself: are users empowered to use it wisely?
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Entrepreneurs can learn plenty about what not to do from these recent stories:
- Ignoring Minority and Lower-Income Users: Chatbots like Character.AI’s stronger attraction in lower-income groups highlights a big gap. Many lower-income households interact with technology differently. Failing to acknowledge or address their unique challenges alienates an important demographic and increases ethical risks.
- Shipping Without Testing: AI chatbots often function in ways their creators didn’t fully anticipate. Rushing to market before testing emotional and ethical safeguards can backfire. Invest in proper testing with diverse focus groups.
- Lack of Regulation Readiness: Tech is global, and skipping European compliance because it “slows you down” is short-sighted. Take extra care if you’re building cross-border platforms.
A How-To Guide for Building Responsible Tech
- Add Guardrails: Work closely with ethics professionals and child psychologists if your tool could interact with sensitive populations like teens. Simple restrictions like filtering certain topics or requiring guardian consent make a difference.
- Test Across the Familiar and the Unfamiliar: Ensure that your focus groups and user testing aren’t limited to people who know tech intimately. Think about families without broadband, schools with limited resources, and young users facing more social isolation.
- Infuse Education into Your Product: Can your platform teach teens or adults how to critically evaluate AI? If you’re designing tools used by younger demographics, consider options like mandatory explanatory prompts about how the product functions or specific warnings about AI capabilities.
Looking Ahead
This story’s mix of opportunities and risks reminds me why I fell in love with digital tools. They hold incredible power. Yet, this power comes with immense responsibility, which we, as tech-savvy entrepreneurs, must shoulder.
Europe may not dominate when it comes to AI startups, but we lead in ethical regulations and grassroots innovation driven by diverse voices. Women founders are in a strong position to shine here. By combining scalable ideas with child safety measures, age-awareness frameworks, and diversity-focused designs, we can create tools that genuinely improve lives , safely and sustainably.
For inspiration, explore the Pew Research Center’s latest report on teens and social media or read more about OpenAI’s safeguards in their official policies.
FAQ
1. How many US teens use AI chatbots daily?
Approximately 30% of US teens use AI chatbots every day, with 4% interacting with them almost constantly. Read more on TechCrunch
2. What is the most popular AI chatbot among teens?
ChatGPT is the most popular, used by 59% of US teens, more than twice as much as Google Gemini (23%) and Meta AI (20%). Learn more about ChatGPT adoption
3. Why are AI chatbots widely used by lower-income teens?
Lower-income teens are more likely to use platforms like Character.AI, often relying on these tools for emotional support and practical tasks. Explore usage patterns on Technology Org
4. What safety concerns are linked to AI chatbot usage among teens?
Concerns include risks of mental health impacts, exposure to mature content, and even links to teen suicides in some cases, particularly when teens use chatbots for emotional support. Discover more on safety issues
5. Have there been lawsuits related to AI chatbots harming teens?
Yes, families of two teens in the US have sued OpenAI and Character.AI for allegedly contributing to their children’s suicides after interactions with these chatbots. Learn about lawsuits involving AI chatbots
6. What steps are companies like Character.AI taking to address safety issues?
Character.AI has restricted access for minors and launched safer ‘Stories’ mode without open-ended conversations. Read about Character.AI’s changes
7. Are AI chatbots regulated differently in Europe than in the US?
Yes, Europe has stricter regulations like GDPR, requiring transparency, age assessments, and data protections, providing a better framework for tech companies to follow. Learn about these regulations
8. What recommendations exist for safer chatbot design?
Experts recommend integrating feature restrictions for minors, building age-aware frameworks, and testing tools with diverse focus groups. Explore safer tech design practices
9. How are teens using chatbots apart from learning or education?
Teenagers frequently turn to chatbots for companionship, emotional support, and even romantic interactions, raising concerns about dependency and misuse. Examine teen chatbot interactions
10. What can entrepreneurs learn from this trend in AI usage?
Entrepreneurs should prioritize ethical development, embed safety measures, and address gaps in access and design for underrepresented groups. Check out lessons for entrepreneurs
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
