Governments Fail to Regulate AI Chatbots for 50% of U.S. Teens as Addiction Fears Rise
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jul 10
Governments Fail to Regulate AI Chatbots for 50% of U.S. Teens as Addiction Fears Rise
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jul 10
Summary
Roughly half of U.S. teens now use AI chatbots, even as governments have largely left them outside new youth online-safety rules despite mounting evidence of addiction-like behavior.
Experts say teens are increasingly using chatbots as substitutes for friendships and relationships, creating emotional dependency and cognitive de-skilling that current laws barely address.
The gap is especially visible in social media crackdowns: Australia, the U.K., Spain, France, Greece, Canada and some U.S. states moved on teen platform bans, but most measures scarcely mention chatbots.
The U.K. has only briefly targeted under-18 access to AI romantic companion bots, while the U.S. House passed the KIDS Act to limit child-chatbot interactions, leaving broader regulation still incomplete.
Billions in AI investment, including Britain’s push to become an AI superpower, are still outpacing child-safety rules, reinforcing warnings that governments are repeating the social-media playbook.
With teen AI addiction rising, are we designing companions or creating a new mental health crisis?
Can lawmakers regulate addictive AI while governments invest billions to accelerate its growth?
Global Youth Digital Safety in 2026: Legislative Bans, AI Risks, and the Urgent Push for Comprehensive Protection
Overview
A global movement is underway to enhance digital safety for young people, as governments around the world respond to growing concerns about online harms. This has led to a wave of legislative efforts and proposed bans on social media and AI chatbot services for minors. In Canada, new laws like the Safe Social Media Act and the Digital Safety Act are being developed to impose direct safety duties on AI chatbot operators. However, companies face evolving expectations and limited regulatory clarity, as the adoption of detailed regulations may take time. These efforts reflect the urgent need to protect children in an increasingly digital world.