Teenage boys in the UK are increasingly turning away from real life relationships and seeking companionship through artificial intelligence chatbots. A recent survey of 37 secondary schools across England, Scotland and Wales by the charity Male Allies UK found that over one third of boys reported interest in having an AI 'friend', and more than half said the online world felt more rewarding than real life. These findings raise serious questions about social development, mental health, and the role of regulation, including whether a ban on certain AI chatbot features might be on the horizon.
