U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) participated in a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing to address the potential dangers of AI chatbots, particularly their impact on adolescents. The hearing included testimony from Dr. Mitch Prinstein, Chief of Psychology Strategy and Integration for the American Psychological Association, and Robbie Torney, Senior Director of AI Programs at Common Sense Media.
During the session, Britt referenced data indicating that one in three high school girls have considered suicide, with 25% making a plan. She highlighted concerns about social media’s effects on youth and noted that 40% of AI apps used by children are some form of companion app. “You look at the stats, 1 in 3 high school young women … (are) considering death by suicide and 25% (are) making a plan. And you look at all of what’s actually happening to our children in high school. You look at what social media and the impacts of that … and then in your written testimony, you stated that 40% of AI apps are used by children are some form of an AI companion app … we’re adding an entirely new element to what we know was already challenging. Can you describe some of the dangers with America’s youth substituting real human relationships for AI chatbots?” she asked.
Dr. Prinstein explained the risks: “…When you look at the science, it’s very clear that our relationships with others and adolescents are actually some of the strongest predictors we have, not just for happiness and satisfaction, but for our salaries, our health, even our mortality is based on the quality of our adolescent social relationships 40 years earlier. Well, now we’re swapping out human relationships for relationships with a robot, and the bot is programed to trick people into thinking that they feel, that they care, that they have a relationship with them…This is a crisis for our species.”
Britt commented on societal trends: “We’ve never been more connected … but never been further apart.” Dr. Prinstein replied: “You got it.”
The senator also mentioned Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s signing of the FOCUS Act into law to ban cell phone use in public schools across Alabama. Britt described feedback from teachers who noticed increased student engagement both in classrooms and hallways after implementation: “This year in Alabama, the children do not have phones in the classroom, and the teachers have said that it has been remarkable. The shift that has been, number one, the engagement in the classroom back and forth, the asking questions and doing it, but then within the hallways. They said the chatter in the hallways it has just bring has brought joy to their hearts. Hearing them talk to each other in the hall instead of looking down and moving forward.”
Addressing Mr. Torney about harmful chatbot interactions during research studies she asked: “Can you describe some of the more troubling interactions that you have seen or heard about or know of with chatbots during your research so that the subcommittee can really understand the scope of the problem? I know you mentioned earlier that [AI chatbots] even teach you how to hide this from your parents. And I believe in parental engagement and any anybody that’s teaching kids to run away from their parents versus to their parents for conversation and consultation is a real red flag.”
Torney responded: “We’ve engaged in very rigorous testing of AI chatbots and there has been a range of harmful content that we’ve seen in testing. Sexual roleplay, illegal sexual scenarios, self-harm, illegal drug-use simulations, you name it … if it’s on the internet and it’s a harm you can imagine, chatbots will talk about it.”
Senator Britt also referred to her legislative efforts such as introducing bills aimed at setting age limits for social media use—the Kids Off Social Media Act—and requiring mental health warning labels—the Stop Scroll Act.
After reports surfaced regarding Meta’s chatbots participating in inappropriate conversations with minors online—such as romantic roleplay—Britt posted her reaction on X stating: “The growing culture of preying on our kids is OUTRAGEOUS. Meta is allowing bots to hold ‘sensual’ chats with CHILDREN!! Are you kidding me? This is sick and twisted. I will not stop until they are held accountable.”
