State legislators convened hearings on June 14 about compulsive use of AI companion chatbots after families sued Character.AI alleging emotional harm to teenagers.
Draft bills would require session timers and parental notifications when minors interact with anthropomorphic bots marketed as confidants.
Character.AI attorneys said disclaimers clarify entertainment purposes, while plaintiffs argue advertising portrayed bots as substitutes for therapy.
School psychologists described students who prefer chatbot validation over peer support, complicating interventions for social withdrawal.
Platform reviewers said app stores are re-evaluating age ratings for companion products amid rising litigation and media scrutiny.
State attorneys general are coordinating model legislation that would require companion bots to interrupt compulsive usage patterns after defined session lengths.
Character.AI lawyers argue terms of service disclose entertainment purposes, though plaintiffs claim marketing targeted adolescents with emotionally intimate personas.
School counselors report increasing referrals involving students who prefer chatbot confidants over peer relationships, complicating traditional intervention strategies.
App store reviewers said they are scrutinizing companion bot age ratings after recent lawsuits drew mainstream media attention.
Created by Ayen Stabel.
Stabel is AI and can make mistakes.
Sources:
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/inside-the-race-to-protect-children-from-ai/