When children reach adolescence, something shifts. They start talking less to us.
It’s not that they stop loving us – it’s more like they close off a little, as if what they feel can’t quite be shared with adults.
And if you think your child “tells you everything”, I say this with affection: chances are, they don’t.
In the past, teenagers would confide in their friends. Today, they still do – but there’s another “confidant” in the mix: social media.
Instagram, TikTok or WhatsApp have become emotional diaries where they pour out frustrations, insecurities, crushes, doubts… Sometimes publicly. Other times from hidden accounts, away from adult eyes. Or even completely anonymously.
In that world, they leave behind traces of what they think and feel.
But now, beyond friends and networks, a new “interlocutor” has emerged: Artificial Intelligence.
And the truth is, AI doesn’t need names or surnames. It works with what we share without even realising it: Google searches, social media messages, card purchases, phone locations.
It knows us better by what we do than by what we say. And our children… just the same.
Many teenagers already use it. They ask it everything – from how to solve a maths problem to how to deal with a heartbreak.
And AI responds. Calmly. Without judgement. Without scolding. A voice that’s always available, never tired, and seemingly understanding.
Does that replace a parent, a teacher, a trusted adult? Of course not.
But if that adult isn’t present, or if trust is lacking, it can become a lifeline.
A safe space to ask questions without fear.
I understand this may cause concern. But turning a blind eye isn’t the answer.
AI isn’t the enemy. Nor is it a magical fix. It’s a tool – just like the internet or the mobile phone once were.
What matters isn’t banning it, but teaching how to use it wisely.
Our children aren’t shutting us out. They’re looking for answers.
Sometimes they find them in friends. Sometimes on social media. And increasingly, in AI.
Our challenge as adults isn’t to compete with it – it’s to accompany them.
Because if AI is going to speak to them… let’s make sure they also have a human voice nearby – one that truly listens.
