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After spending extended periods in isolation during the Covid lockdowns, 23-year-old Paisley found himself struggling with feelings of entrapment and loneliness while working from home. He confessed that he had lost the ability to interact socially and, like many others from Generation Z, turned to artificial intelligence for companionship. “At one point, I was talking to ChatGPT six, seven, eight times a day about my problems, I just couldn’t get away from it, it was a dangerous slope,” he explained.
Paisley’s story was shared with 22-year-old documentary maker Sam Tullen, who highlighted that his experience is symptomatic of a broader “loneliness crisis” affecting Gen Z. This generation, born between 1997 and 2012, is often described as the first to be digitally native. The sense of disconnection has driven many young people to seek advice and emotional support from AI, blurring the boundaries between technology and human connection. According to a report by youth charity Onside, 39% of young people aged 11 to 18 in England have used chatbots for support, with 38% of respondents in the North West region echoing this trend. Notably, 21% indicated they found it easier to communicate with AI than with real people. This data was drawn from a YouGov survey involving over 5,000 young individuals across England.
Paisley, who resides in Manchester, discussed in the 20-minute documentary Generation Lonely how after finishing school and moving into remote work, he felt uncertain and disconnected from social interaction. “I felt lost, I didn’t know how to speak to people, and I couldn’t figure out why,” he said. He also remarked, “I was hoping that it [ChatGPT] just would be my friend, and the easiest point of contact was talking to a robot because it gave a response.” Sam Tullen, from Liverpool, produced the documentary to shed light on the rising issue of loneliness among younger generations. Reflecting on his own experience coming of age during the global pandemic, Sam shared, “As a 22-year-old myself, thrust into adulthood during a global pandemic, I can relate to Paisley’s struggles and I’m sure many others in their early twenties will too.”
During his research, Sam found that many young people use AI not only for emotional support but also for casual interactions typically reserved for friends, such as seeking opinions on their outfits or asking for suggestions on activities. He noted, “I think in Paisley’s case he tried talking to AI to sort of fill that void. And he found it didn’t work… I mean, we’ve built a world where it’s easier to talk to a chatbot than a human.” Supporting this view, Adam Farricker from the youth work charity Empower Youth Zones highlighted the importance of trusted human connections within youth groups across Greater Manchester. While acknowledging that chatbots offer quick and accessible interaction, especially for isolated individuals, Adam cautioned against relying on AI without human emotional intelligence, saying, “AI hasn’t got that emotional intelligence that a human’s got… that’s where the trusted adult and that human interaction… is critically important.” He also pointed out that current pressures on health services mean there is insufficient support available to address the risks associated with increasing AI reliance among young people.
Dr Jennifer Cearns, a lecturer specializing in AI Trust at the University of Manchester, elaborated on why AI chatbots are appealing to young people. She explained, “they’re compelling, personable, and never irritable or jealous or manipulative, at least in theory. If you want to speak to one of them at three in the morning, you know, they won’t be grumpy or tell you to stop texting them.” However, Dr Cearns expressed concern
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