Associate Professor Amy Dawel is a clinical and cognitive psychologist at The Australian National University, where she leads the ANU Emotions and Faces Lab. Her research program addresses emerging threats from synthetic media, investigating how people detect and respond to deepfakes and AI-generated personas. In this Australian Rotary Health project, she focuses on how interactions with AI chatbots influence preteens’ social development, wellbeing, and mental health, developing guidance and practical tools for managing these experiences safely.

AI chatbots are becoming part of everyday life for many preteens, with some starting to use them as early as eight years of age. These apps simulate conversation in ways that feel natural and responsive, which can make them appealing for children seeking advice, friendship, or entertainment. However, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has cautioned that AI chatbots may expose children to psychological risks, including social withdrawal and content that could worsen distress. At the same time, there is potential AI chatbots might be designed to support wellbeing. With the national ban on social media for under-16s, families and policymakers are concerned that children may turn to AI chatbots instead, triggering new debates about how AI technologies should be regulated. Despite these pressing concerns, almost no research has examined how AI chatbots influence children’s mental health.

This project will address that gap. The study will investigate how AI chatbots shape children’s emotional development, social connections, and help-seeking behaviours. Interviews with children will give insight into their relationships with AI chatbots, while a longitudinal survey will map patterns of use and mental health outcomes over time. The project will identify factors that place children at risk and highlight opportunities for safer, more supportive digital interactions.

Co-Investigators: Professor Tegan Cruwys, A/Professor Eryn Newman, Professor Alison Calear, A/Professor Junwen Chen and A/Professor Dave Pasalich.