I find it disturbing how little safeguarding there is around ChatGPT and preventing these relationships (I develop AI Agents and have a small startup). I honestly worry so much for today's kids. How they will act without readily available answers and parasocial relationships -- it reminds me of how iPad babies form an addiction to the screen (screen dependency) that can be as severe as drug addiction (as a 2000 baby, I feel lucky to be more addicted to cigarettes than my screen). Somehow, I feel healthier and more human.
We didn't have smartphones as 4-year-olds. I got my first smartphone at 13, and the internet wasn't just a commodified hellhole yet. I loved to go outside and hang out with friends. It's crazy that the top level of screen addiction was video games (which come on, video games are fire, and if anything can be more educational and skill-building than ChatGPT).
