Casal dels Infants – A lack of consistent parental attention and emotional closeness has driven some children to seek comfort elsewhere. One common outlet being artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbots. With just a smartphone, they can feel heard, accepted, and “understood” by technology that responds instantly and never passes judgment.
Annisa Axelta, a psychologist from Eka Hospital Bekasi, describes this phenomenon as a form of compensation for unmet emotional needs at home.
“When children don’t receive enough emotional support, they tend to look for alternatives. AI chatbots like ChatGPT become an instant and convenient escape,” she explained.
The Risk of Emotional Attachment to Technology
Children dealing with anxiety or loneliness are particularly vulnerable to forming emotional attachments to AI as a “virtual friend.” However, Annisa warns that such attachments may disrupt healthy emotional development.
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“Children don’t learn how to process difficult emotions like anger, disappointment, or fear. Instead, they suppress these feelings and escape into a chatbot that always responds sweetly,” she said.
This dependency, often triggered by a lack of parental attention, can hinder a child’s ability to form real-world social connections. They may feel content with digital interactions alone, gradually losing the motivation to build meaningful relationships with others, including their own family members.
Long-Term Effects: Declining Empathy and Real-Life Interaction
If left unaddressed, this pattern can have serious long-term consequences. According to Annisa, excessive emotional attachment to AI can reduce a child’s capacity for empathy and healthy interpersonal relationships.
Moreover, AI systems designed with “human-like” traits also pose the risk of manipulating user behavior. The emotional bonds formed with such systems can be exploited for commercial purposes or to influence thought patterns.
The Key: Parental Presence and Emotional Engagement
Annisa emphasizes that no technology can replace the presence of a parent. Children need genuine, warm, and consistent human connection to avoid falling into the trap of artificial emotional engagement.
“Start with something simple, like asking your child how they’re feeling or what made them happy this week. Listen without judging or rushing to offer solutions. That kind of attention means far more than just handing them a gadget to keep them calm,” she concluded.
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