# 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.
- Title: Young bullying victims turning to AI for help, study warns
- Summary: A quarter of bullied young people use AI chatbots for support, but experts say algorithms cannot replace human intervention and real protection.
- Keywords: e-enfance, bullying, cyberbullying, artificial intelligence, chatbots, young people, france, RFI
- Source: RFI — https://rfi.fr/en/france/20261106-one-quarter-of-young-bullying-victims-turning-to-ai-for-help-study-finds
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: e-enfance, bullying, cyberbullying, artificial intelligence, chatbots, young people, france, news, world
## 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.
## Key takeaway

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.