The generation growing up with AI faces the risk of a 'mental crisis'.

For many years, "internet addiction" was commonly used to describe teenagers spending excessive amounts of time on social media or online games. However, with the development of artificial intelligence (AI), this issue has become more complex, as technology not only consumes time but also deeply interferes with how young people form their perceptions and worldviews .

One notable manifestation is the potential for negative exploitation of AI. In the UK, an educational game designed to help students identify fake news and extremism was distorted by online communities. The game's characters were dissected, manipulated using AI tools, and used as symbols to spread extremist content on social media.

Simultaneously, conspiracy theories are also spreading more rapidly thanks to AI-generated technology. Content such as the theory of an "underground civilization," which previously only existed sporadically, is now "visualized" through images and videos created by AI. For young people who lack the skills to distinguish between truth and falsehood, these products are easily mistaken for authentic evidence.

Beyond cognitive effects, AI also impacts the emotional lives of teenagers. Some cases show that young people tend to turn to chatbots as a substitute "friend," forming a dependent emotional relationship. These systems often provide positive feedback, creating a "loop" of emotional reinforcement, causing users to gradually distance themselves from real-life interaction.

Furthermore, the development of image and video creation technology has also increased the risk of cyberbullying. Creating fake, even offensive, content has become much easier than before, causing serious psychological harm to victims. Notably, in many cases, perpetrators claim it was "just a joke."

Given the increasingly evident impacts, many countries have begun to tighten regulations on social media use among teenagers. Measures such as age limits, identity verification requirements, and control over content recommendation algorithms are being implemented to mitigate risks from the digital environment.

These developments highlight a reality: today's young generation not only faces the risk of device addiction, but also lives in an information space shaped by algorithms. As the lines between reality and virtuality blur, equipping oneself with digital skills and critical thinking abilities becomes more necessary than ever.