Source: The Next Web
One in five Americans aged 18-29 now use AI chatbots for emotional support, revealing a structural gap in accessible mental health infrastructure that technology is filling before policy catches up. Gen Z and younger millennials are turning to systems that are cheaper, always available, and judgment-free rather than human relationships. Platforms profiting from this dynamic have zero obligation to provide continuity or accountability, creating a dependency relationship with companies that can change terms, deprecate models, or go bankrupt without warning.