AI, Teens & Relationships: What Parents Need to Know | Dr. Mitch Prinstein

What happens when kids and teenagers begin turning to AI chatbots for friendship, advice, reassurance, and connection? In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen sit down with psychologist and adolescent development expert Dr. Mitch Prinstein to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way teens and young people experience relationships. AI chatbots can be useful tools—but some are also designed to feel remarkably human. They remember what users have said, respond instantly, appear endlessly available, and may reinforce what a young person is already thinking or feeling. For tweens and teens navigating an especially important period of social and emotional development, that raises important questions about what happens when technology begins to replace some of the friction, vulnerability, and learning that come from real human relationships. In this conversation, we explore: Why adolescence is such an important period for learning how to build relationships How teens are using AI chatbots for information, advice, companionship, and connection Why humans naturally form attachments to things that aren't human Why an AI chatbot can feel like a friend—even when we know it's a machine What happens when teens begin preferring chatbots over human peers How AI can remove the "friction" that is actually important for social and emotional development The potential connection between chatbot use, loneliness, and reduced interaction with human peers What teens may miss when AI replaces opportunities to navigate conflict, rejection, vulnerability, and repair Why real human connection matters so much during adolescence How parents can approach AI use without immediately turning the conversation into a battle Why curiosity and open-ended questions may be more effective than judgment How parents can model critical thinking about AI and help teens think about whether technology aligns with their values Why AI-enabled toys and chatbots may raise different concerns for younger children Why parents should think about AI use differently depending on their child's developmental stage What we still don't know about the long-term effects of AI on adolescent development One of the central ideas in this conversation is simple but important: relationships aren't just something teenagers have—they are something teenagers learn through real life experience. The disagreements, awkward conversations, misunderstandings, breakups, rejection, vulnerability, and repair that happen in real relationships can be difficult to watch as a parent. But they can also become important "learning moments" that help young people develop empathy, perspective-taking, communication skills, and the ability to navigate relationships throughout adulthood. And as AI becomes increasingly sophisticated, parents may need to think not only about what their teens are doing with technology, but also about what opportunities they might be missing because of it. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Why We As Humans Can Feel Attachment to a Chatbot 00:48 Today’s Topic: Teens, Technology & AI 00:59 Meet Dr. Mitch Prinstein 02:23 Why Adolescence Matters So Much 06:26 How Teens Are Using AI Chatbots 10:03 Why We Form Attachments to AI 11:41 When Kids Prefer Chatbots Over People 13:55 Why AI Chatbots Are So Compelling 15:13 The Mental Health & Developmental Risks 17:16 The Mental Health Implications 19:24 What Teens Lose When AI Replaces Relationships 23:01 Why Human Connection Can’t Be Replaced 25:55 Should AI Chatbots Be Regulated? 27:48 What Parents Need to Know 29:49 AI Guidance for Different Ages 32:35 How Parents Can Model Healthy AI Use 34:54 Curiosity Over Judgment 37:09 Growing Up in the AI Experiment 38:31 Final Thoughts ABOUT DR. MITCH PRINSTEIN Dr. Mitch Prinstein is the John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and co-director of the Winston Center for Technology and the Developing Mind. His research focuses on interpersonal relationships, adolescent development, mental health, and the ways technology and digital platforms influence young people. He is also the author of Popular: The Power of Likability in a Status-Obsessed World, which examines the role of popularity, likability, relationships, and social status across development. 🔗 Learn more about Dr. Mitch Prinstein: Mitch Prinstein's official website 🔗 Learn more about the Winston Center for Technology and the Developing Mind: UNC Winston Center 🔗 That Popular Podcast — Mitch Prinstein and Aaron Keck’s podcast exploring psychology, relationships, human behavior, and the social dynamics we experience every day. Listen to That Popular Podcast on Apple Podcasts 🔗 Learn more about Dr. Prinstein's book, Popular: Popular: The Power of Likability in a Status-Obsessed World A NOTE FOR PARENTS You don't have to become an AI expert overnight to have meaningful conversations with your teenager about technology. Start with curiosity. Ask what they're using, what they like about it, what they find helpful, what concerns them, and what they think AI can—and cannot—provide that a real person can. The goal isn't simply to control technology. It's to help young people develop the judgment and relationship skills they will need to navigate a world in which AI is becoming part of everyday life. 💬 We want to hear from you: How is your teen or young adult using AI? Are they using it for school, advice, entertainment, companionship—or something else? And if you're concerned about their AI use, what questions are you finding hardest to navigate as a parent? Share your experience below. 👇 And if this conversation gave you something to think about, please subscribe to The Parenting Pair Podcast and share this episode with another parent. DISCLAIMER: The Parenting Pair Podcast is designed for informational and educational purposes only. Do not rely on the information presented in this podcast as a substitute or replacement for professional -- psychological or medical -- advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have concerns about you or a family member's well being, please contact a licensed mental health professional or physician.