Navigating the Future with Care: Op-Ed The MENTAL HEALTH effects of ai IN THE US

Easy and affordable access to medical care in the US has never been a cornerstone of America’s achievements. Mental health care in the US is no different. Consider that as we expand on the implications of lightning fast AI innovation mixed with an aging framework of laws and a laissez-faire view on affordable care within the US.

This is an opinion article that is meant to provoke conversation about how to best utilize generative artificial intelligence innovations to best help society while minimizing the risks. In this article, we’ll be focusing on mental health effects of having AI intertwined with daily life. In this post, we’ll specifically ponder about:

“Will AI be just like Social Media in terms of how it affects the youth?” We’ve seen increased anxiety, obsessive behaviors, and depression amongst teens who frequent Social Media (Source: Mayo Clinic)

To quote the study directly from the above link:

Another study looked at data on more than 12,000 teens in England between the ages of 13 to 16. The researchers found that using social media more than three times a day predicted poor mental health and well-being in teens.

But not all research has found a link between time spent on social media and mental health risks in teens.

How teens use social media also might determine its impact. For instance, viewing certain types of content may raise some teens’ mental health risks. This could include content that depicts:

  • Illegal acts.
  • Self-harm or harm to other people.
  • Encouragement of habits tied to eating disorders, such as purging or restrictive eating.
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These types of content may be even more risky for teens who already have a mental health condition. Being exposed to discrimination, hate or cyberbullying on social media also can raise the risk of anxiety or depression.

That last part is extremely thought provoking.

In the age of Generative AI, where one can create any type of scenario, tool, platform, assistant and more with just a click of a button…  If teens (or people in general) are using generative AI to create any type of Cortisol or Serotonin releasing content; who’s to say it’s not an addiction in it’s own right?

 

Should Icarus be allowed to fly that close to the sun? Should our teens? Let us know what you think in the comments!

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