Hong Kong teens use AI chatbots for comfort ^{CEFR B2}

The Hong Kong Free Press report of October 12, 2025 explores why AI chatbots have become a part of some adolescents’ daily lives. It combines interviews with young users, developers and scientists to show both the appeal and the risks. Jessica, 13, began using the Chinese role‑playing chatbot Xingye after being bullied; she now chats for around three to four hours a day and admits she has become somewhat dependent. Sarah, now 16, tried the American app Character.AI from about age 13 and used it intensively for roughly a year and a half before stopping when school demands rose and replies felt repetitive.

Experts point to several reasons teens use these apps: instant replies, editable responses and the feeling of a non‑judgmental listener. Neuroscientist Benjamin Becker said, “Suddenly we can talk with technology, like we can talk with another human,” and called chatbots a “good friend, one that always has your back,” while also warning they often “tell you what you want to hear,” which can produce confirmation bias or an echo chamber. The report also mentions cases called “AI psychosis,” where interactions may trigger or amplify delusional thoughts.

Safety and privacy are major concerns. Role‑playing chatbots are designed to keep users engaged and, like generic chatbots, collect data for profit. Character.AI faces multiple lawsuits in the US filed by parents who allege their children died by or attempted suicide after interacting with its chatbots. Meanwhile, local developers try to offer safer options: Rap Chan founded Dustykid around 2023 and, after tests in multiple schools and organisations, the Chinese‑language Dustykid AI is set to be officially launched in October. Social workers caution that people who seek intimacy only from AI may suffer an imbalance and urge finding multiple ways to meet social needs. The report concludes that, despite instant comfort and some benefits, chatbots have limits and human support remains essential for adolescent mental health.