r/technology • u/WorldTravelerBoss • Jul 15 '26

Artificial Intelligence The terrifying rise of schoolboys making AI girlfriends. Boys as young as 12 are now in romantic ‘relationships’ with chatbots, and it’s affecting how they treat girls in the real world.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/25/schoolboys-ai-girlfriends/
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u/breaducate Jul 15 '26

It's a lot worse than that.

Because "so the government is passing legislation to parent on their behalf" is the excuse and the thin end of the wedge.

It's step one in working towards an internet where the free anonymous exchange of ideas is out of reach to all but some very tech-literate cranks.

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u/Booyakasha_ Jul 15 '26

Most family's both parents work, yes they can handle them after work, but schools just should ban outright mobile phones.

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u/NetLumpy1818 Jul 15 '26

"an internet where the free anonymous exchange of ideas is out of reach to all but some very tech-literate cranks"

So late 1990s internet. I'm down, fire up the BBS