From crafting breakup texts to analyzing screenshots of crushes, artificial intelligence is becoming the new confidant of young people. While the tool is convenient, many researchers are raising the alarm: delegating one's social life to an algorithm could permanently hinder the emotional development of new generations.

The concept of "social offloading"

Dr. Michael Robb (Common Sense Media) calls this phenomenon social offloading : the act of outsourcing human interactions to a machine. This behavior isn't limited to Generation Z; it extends from Generation Alpha to Millennials.

The key figure: According to a 2025 survey, a third of teenagers now prefer to confide their serious thoughts to an AI companion rather than a human being.

The risks identified by experts

The systematic use of ChatGPT to manage human interactions carries three major risks:

1. Atrophy of social skills: By letting AI formulate answers, young people lose the habit of interpreting non-verbal language, decoding hidden intentions, or navigating the natural ambiguity of relationships.
2. Crisis of confidence and identity: Entrusting one's words to AI ultimately creates a feeling of illegitimacy. If one believes that one's own words are never "good enough," one weakens one's self-affirmation and the construction of one's identity.
3. The "loneliness loop": AI offers the illusion of immediate connection. However, this interaction remains superficial and unable to replace the depth of a real bond, ultimately exacerbating the initial feeling of isolation.

The "double whammy" effect after the pandemic

The health crisis hit young people during a critical neurological phase: the development of the frontal lobe . This is precisely the time when we normally learn to "mentalize" (understand the state of mind of others).

Having lacked real-world social interaction during those years, many have turned to AI as their default. But what seems like a crutch risks becoming a wall, preventing any real "repair" of the social skills necessary for adult life.