‘Saya bicara dengan ChatGPT 8 kali sehari’ – ‘Krisis’ kesepian Gen Z

After years of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently working from home, 23-year-old Paisley found himself feeling increasingly trapped. He admitted that only artificial intelligence (AI) seemed capable of offering him solace.

“I lost the ability to socialise,” he confessed, highlighting a challenge faced by many in the wake of widespread lockdowns and remote working arrangements. Consequently, like a growing number of his Generation Z peers, Paisley turned to AI in his search for connection and companionship.

“At one point, I was talking to ChatGPT six, seven, eight times a day about my problems. I couldn’t get away from it; it was a dangerous path,” he revealed, underscoring the intense, yet potentially problematic, reliance he developed on the AI chatbot.

Paisley later shared his deeply personal experience with loneliness with 22-year-old documentary filmmaker, Sam Tullen. Sam informed the BBC that Paisley’s struggle is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of a broader “loneliness crisis” afflicting Generation Z.

Gen Z, encompassing individuals born between 1997 and 2012, is widely recognised as the first true ‘digital native’ generation. Yet, ironically, this digitally fluent group is struggling with profound social isolation.

Startling statistics from the UK’s Office for National Statistics reveal that Generation Z stands out as the loneliest age demographic across the entire United Kingdom. A comprehensive study indicated that 33% of those aged between 16 and 29 admitted to feeling lonely “often, always, or sometimes.” This pervasive lack of genuine human connection has driven many young people to seek advice and emotional support from AI, effectively blurring the traditional boundaries between technology and authentic friendship.

Further compounding these concerns, a report by the youth charity Onside found that 39% of young people in the UK, aged 11 to 18, use chatbots for this very reason. Specifically, in Northwest England, including the vibrant region of Manchester, 38% of young people reported feeling lonely. A significant 21% from this demographic even stated they found it easier to converse with an AI than with a human being. These compelling figures are derived from a YouGov survey involving over 5,000 young individuals across the UK.

For Paisley, who resides in Manchester, the transition from school directly into remote work exacerbated his feelings of isolation. In Sam Tullen’s poignant 20-minute documentary, Generation Lonely, Paisley articulated his struggle: “I felt lost, I didn’t know how to talk to people, and I didn’t understand why. I hoped [ChatGPT] would become my friend, and the easiest way to make contact was to talk to a robot because robots give responses.” His words paint a vivid picture of the appeal AI holds for those grappling with social anxieties and a yearning for interaction.

Sam Tullen, a Liverpool native, produced the documentary with the specific aim of delving into the escalating sense of loneliness among Generation Z. He explained to the BBC that the COVID-19 pandemic has “caused a lot of problems” for a generation that is highly digitally connected yet, paradoxically, socially isolated. “As a 22-year-old who was forced to grow up during a global pandemic, I can understand Paisley’s struggles, and I believe many others in their early 20s will feel the same,” Sam remarked, highlighting the widespread resonance of Paisley’s story.

During his research for the film, Sam engaged in numerous conversations with young people who rely on AI for support. He observed that while Paisley initially sought to fill an emotional void with AI, he ultimately discovered its limitations. “I think in Paisley’s case, he tried talking to AI to fill that void. And he found that it didn’t work,” Sam explained. He believes many young individuals experiment with AI companionship but often take time to realise its inherent unsustainability. “I mean, we’ve built a world where it’s easier to talk to a chatbot than a human,” Sam lamented, pointing to a profound shift in societal interaction.

Sam’s research revealed that people frequently ask chatbots questions typically reserved for human friends, such as “What do you think of my outfit?” or “What should I do today?” He succinctly characterised this trend as “using AI chatbots to replace friends,” underscoring the depth of the reliance and the nature of the interactions.

Offering a contrasting perspective on youth support is Adam Farricker, manager of Empower Youth Zones, a charity that serves over 15,000 children aged between eight and 19. According to Adam, vital organisations like his provide thousands of young people in Greater Manchester with safe spaces and access to “a trusted person to talk to.” He acknowledges that chatbots are popular among young people primarily because they are “quick and easy to access,” especially for those who feel isolated.

While many young people recognise some of the inherent risks of AI, Adam notes a significant concern: “There are a lot of young people we talk to who genuinely think that the information they’re getting from these sources is factual, and that’s a worry that we have.” His team’s crucial role involves directing individuals to appropriate services that can address mental health issues, overall well-being, anxiety, and depression. Adam firmly believes that AI “doesn’t have the emotional intelligence that humans have.”

He further elaborated that “many children and teenagers are still developing their emotions and intelligence, so they can’t always understand the information they’re receiving.” This developmental stage makes the role of trusted adults and genuine human interaction—whether through friends, family, social workers, or teachers—absolutely critical. However, Adam also highlighted a significant systemic challenge: the support available to manage these increasing risks is “not enough” due to the overwhelming strain on health services.

Jennifer Cearns, a lecturer in AI Trust at the University of Manchester’s Department of Social Anthropology, who researches the intricate relationship between AI and humans, shed light on the allure of AI chatbots. “One of the appeals of AI chatbots is that they are charming, friendly, and never get angry, jealous, or manipulative – at least in theory,” she explained. This constant, non-judgmental availability is a major draw. “If you want to talk to one of them at three in the morning, they won’t get angry or tell you to stop messaging them,” Cearns added, illustrating their unconditional accessibility.

However, Cearns warns that certain demographics, particularly teenagers, often lack the critical awareness needed for AI usage and may struggle to differentiate a chatbot relationship from genuine human interaction. While most people would, at some point, articulate discomfort, disagreement, or a desire to change the subject in a human conversation, AI chatbots rarely do so unless explicitly programmed. “So there’s a sort of sycophantic element, essentially it’s like talking to yourself, like to a mirror. It reflects back what it thinks you want to hear,” Cearns stated, pointing to the absence of challenging perspectives critical for personal growth.

Dangerous Practices

Jennifer Cearns expressed profound concern regarding a generation of teenagers becoming accustomed to conversing with AI chatbots “that don’t challenge dangerous practices like misogyny or various types of hate speech and so on.” She cautioned about the long-term implications: “If they’re not getting that pushback at a really critical time in their development when they’re young, that will potentially extend into how they interact with other humans later in life.” This lack of ethical feedback during formative years could have serious societal repercussions.

Reflecting on the documentary’s production, Sam Tullen noted that individuals he interviewed for his research frequently expressed feeling “like nobody understands what’s going on, especially their parents.” He recalled their frustration: “They’re like, ‘go out, have a social life like we did when we were kids.’ But they don’t understand how different it is,” highlighting the significant generational gap and the unique challenges Gen Z faces in forging real-world connections.