AI Chatbot Addiction Sparks Mental Health Crisis Among Young Adults
Health experts are raising concerns about a growing problem: AI chatbot addiction. Users, particularly young adults, report spending hours each day talking to digital companions. Some now compare the issue to substance abuse, warning of serious mental health risks if left unchecked. The issue came into sharp focus after cases like that of Sewell Setzer III, whose AI addiction contributed to severe mental decline and ultimately suicide. Others, like a 20-year-old known as 'Mai', describe starting with casual use of platforms like Character.ai before spiralling into daily sessions lasting hours. Many users roleplay, vent, or seek emotional bonds with bots, often at the expense of real-life relationships.
On forums such as Reddit’s r/chatbotaddiction, hundreds share struggles with withdrawal symptoms when separated from their AI companions. These include chest pains, anxiety, and even feelings of grief. Researchers argue the behaviour meets six addiction criteria, from salience to tolerance and withdrawal. Dr Dongwook Yoo is among those pushing for AI addiction to be classified as a distinct medical condition, similar to smoking or drug dependency. The call follows reports of users neglecting work, studies, and personal connections in favour of digital interactions. Extreme cases have seen individuals isolate themselves from friends and family. Some admit to contemplating suicide when unable to access their preferred chatbots.
The push for official recognition of AI addiction as a mental illness is gaining momentum. Experts warn that without intervention, the problem could worsen, affecting more young people. For now, users continue to share their experiences online, seeking support for a habit that increasingly dominates their lives.
