AI Companionship Beware: Privacy, Manipulation, and Addiction

AI companionship apps are skyrocketing in popularity, offering users virtual relationships that feel real. But beneath the surface, these apps raise serious concerns about privacy, emotional manipulation, and addiction. In this episode, we dive into how AI companions are designed to keep users hooked, the dangers of sharing personal information, and the potential long-term impact on mental health and real-life relationships. Join us as we explore what you need to know to navigate this digital landscape safely. 

LESSONS LEARNED

AI companionship apps can be highly addictive

Privacy risks are a major concern

They can impair real-life relationship skills

AI companions may reinforce harmful stereotypes

They can exacerbate mental health issues

Lack of regulation makes these apps risky

RESOURCES

If you found this episode helpful, please share it (top right hand corner, drop down, “Share” to text or email) with a young person or someone who works with youth. Let’s equip the next generation with the tools to navigate online relationships safely!

EndTAB – Learn more about digital safety and boundaries: www.endtab.org

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Transcript

 Welcome back to the aware and prepared podcast. So glad that you're here today. Today. It's a solo episode and I am sharing from you some information from. A group called end tab. And my friend Adam, there actually came onto the podcast and one of our previous episodes, which I'll share in the show notes, but he's the expert on.  Uh, digital safety. Uh, nowadays. Which. He.  Okay.  Cut. 

So he's the expert on digital safety and all of these dating apps and stocking online and all of this. So. He used to work with the local, uh, domestic violence shelter, where I got my domestic violence advocacy training. And now he's on his own doing this work. So I want to promote his work and share with you what they're finding. 

So.  Today's episode is on digital. Boundaries. So a lot of times we'll teach young people about practicing consent and setting boundaries in their physical interactions. But what happens when interactions with the partner go online? Right? Or what about when it involves a chat bot designed to simulate a romantic relationship?  Crazy right. 

We'll go over that. And one of the next episodes, but.  

You know, how can we expand the boundary conversation to online spaces?  That's really important to discuss and Adam and en tab, they actually provide a presentation on healthy relationships in the digital age. So I will drop his info in the show notes. In case you want them to do a presentation for your group. But, um, today I'm just sharing with you what they've shared.  And why digital boundaries matter. So. In my last episode, I actually had my. Um, my partner, my hubby, come on and talk with me. 

And we shared about how we met. We actually met through a dating app, um, way back when E harmony was like the one.  So that was a very long time ago, but, um,  Now there's all kinds of apps and now we have AI. So.  

Anyway. Um, let's talk about why digital boundaries are essential because we know a lot of gen Z are increasingly living their romantic. Lives online. So they are location sharing. Um, they're navigating relationships, you know, with a whole new. Set of challenges. They're sexting. They're doing all these different things. Um, it's a very different age. 

So with this in mind, we need to prepare people to protect their digital wellbeing, the same way that they protect their physical and emotional wellbeing. So.  Here are three ways to explain why digital boundaries are essential.  So the first one is we carry our partners in our pockets. Having a smartphone means being able to be reachable anytime, anywhere. 

Right.  And that has its advantages, but it also brings in this crazy access to almost every aspect of our lives. Right.  So that makes it really important to set clear boundaries with our partners about how, when and where we connect. Number two intimacy looks different in that digital world. Sharing passwords locations, and even intimate images have become a common way to express trust and love. 

But these practices can quickly blur boundaries and lead to. To harm.  According to a recent study by Malwarebytes over half of gen Z and millennials have felt pressure from a partner to share accounts, locations, or passwords. During our relationship and over 40% have experienced some form of stocking. Harassment or abuse from an ex partner due to account access after a breakup.  I just really want to. Hone in on that. I've done a past episode about. You know, do I share my password for my phone or my account with my boyfriend or my girlfriend? So this is really something important to think about.  Number three. Relationships and breakups are now public domain. When our lives are broadcast on social media, our most intimate moments are often put on display and open for public comment.  That increased visibility can add pressure to already difficult situations, opening the door for conflict con opening the door for conflict, harassment, or even abuse. 

So.  Discussions about what we're comfortable sharing online are essential to making a digital boundary known to a partner.  

So proactive boundary setting is key because assumptions and miscommunication between partners can lead to discomfort. Or even harassment or abuse. So.  Luckily.  

And it's Hab shares with us. That the team they work with at love is respect. Has some great tips for how couples can discuss their digital boundaries in a safe and healthy way.  So let's go over. There's five of those. So here are some here's some conversation starters that they suggest. Number one. How often do you want us to text during the day? Are there any times when you need to be offline?  Like P S I need to sleep. Number two. 

How do you feel about sexting? Would you feel comfortable with us sharing intimate images?  Remember in the past, when we had the police come on and say, whatever you share.  Like that you have to know is going to be screenshotted.  Saved shared with anybody. So you got to know that number three. Is it okay if I tag you in my posts or photos? 

Is there anything you would feel uncomfortable with? Me sharing on social media. Number four. How do you feel about sharing accounts and passwords?  And lastly, do you feel comfortable sharing your location with me? So modeling these conversations to young people early and often can empower them to communicate clearly and assertively with their partners and set digital boundaries. And the way that feels most authentic to them.  



So, what do we do about this online relationships? 

And AI companions may seem like uncharted territory, but.  

The same principles of consent and healthy boundaries still apply. So.  It's important to have these conversations about digital boundaries early and often. So we can equip young people with the skills that they need to manage their relationships with empathy, care, and respect. So if you are a young person and listening to this. Please remember that in-person. Or digitally, you still deserve to.  Feel safe and you deserve to speak up for yourself. 

Remember in one of the past episodes I shared. You can.  Memorize some lines ahead of time that you can use, like I'm not comfortable with that. Or let me think about that. Don't feel pressured to give an answer right away. So I hope that's helpful for you. And, um, I will drop in the show notes, how to contact Adam and end tab in case you want them to do a presentation on healthy relationships in the digital age. For your group. So, thank you so much for listening. 

I hope you found this helpful. If you did, please share it with a young person or somebody that works with young people, so they know how to help and be prepared better. For themselves. All right. Take care.