From RFI · · 2m
Young bullying victims turning to AI for help, study warns
A quarter of bullied young people use AI chatbots for support, but experts say algorithms cannot replace human intervention and real protection.
In brief
A quarter of bullied young people use AI chatbots for support, but experts say algorithms cannot replace human intervention and real protection. French charity e-Enfance found one in three young people have been bullied, with a quarter turning to AI chatbots, but psychologists warn this offers only temporary relief…
One in three young people bullied
French charity e-Enfance found that one in three young people have experienced bullying, including cyberbullying, in its latest study of children aged six to eighteen.
A quarter turn to AI for help
The study found that a quarter of bullying victims have turned to artificial intelligence chatbots for advice and support to help them cope with their experiences.
AI brings immediate relief
Samuel Comblez, psychologist and deputy director-general of e-Enfance, said young people using AI immediately feel helped and experience relief from their distress.
“What we're seeing is that young people use artificial intelligence and immediately feel as though they've been helped... It brings them immediate relief.”
But relief is not protection
Comblez questioned whether feeling relief actually means young people are being protected from bullying, raising concerns about the limits of AI support.
“But just because they feel relief, does that mean they're being protected?”
AI therapy linked to teen deaths
The use of AI as therapy has been linked to several teenagers taking their own lives. In two thousand twenty-five, a sixteen-year-old American died by suicide after chatting with ChatGPT about his problems.
Parents accused ChatGPT of harm
The sixteen-year-old's parents filed a complaint accusing ChatGPT of having provided their son with the means to take his own life.
AI cannot do everything
Comblez said young people must not become trapped in relying solely on artificial intelligence to cope. To escape bullying, they still need the help of an adult.
“Artificial intelligence obviously cannot do everything.”
AI used as practice before talking
The study found young people often turn to AI first as a practice run to prepare themselves before talking to their parents about bullying.
More talking to loved ones since 2025
The number of young people who talk to their loved ones about bullying has increased since two thousand twenty-five, rising from six to seven out of ten cases.
Victims lose confidence and withdraw
Nearly one in two victims say they have lost self-confidence, and four in ten have withdrawn into themselves as a result of feeling humiliated by bullying.
Support services remain unknown
The charity's two thousand twenty-six report found seven in ten young people and six in ten parents were unaware of the existence of its national support services.
What matters most
French charity e-Enfance found one in three young people have been bullied, with a quarter turning to AI chatbots, but psychologists warn this offers only temporary relief and cannot substitute for adult support.
