Survey Finds 49% of Young Europeans Have Discussed Intimate Issues with AI Chatbots
An Ipsos BVA survey of 3,800 people aged 11 to 25 across four European countries found 51 percent consider it easy to discuss mental health with chatbots, higher than with healthcare professionals or psychologists. The poll, released May 5, 2026, was commissioned by France’s CNIL and Groupe VYV.
insurancejournal.comNearly one in two young people in Europe have used AI chatbots to discuss intimate or personal matters, according to an Ipsos BVA survey released on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The survey of 3,800 people aged 11 to 25 was carried out across France, Germany, Sweden and Ireland in early 2026. It was commissioned by France’s privacy watchdog CNIL and insurer Groupe VYV.
Rappler reported that 51 percent of those surveyed said it is "easy" to discuss mental health and personal issues with a chatbot. Only 49 percent said the same about healthcare professionals. Thirty-seven percent said it was easy to discuss such issues with psychologists.
People close to them ranked higher, with 68 percent saying it was easy to discuss issues with friends and 61 percent with parents. The findings highlighted growing concerns over young people’s mental health. Twenty-eight percent of respondents met the threshold for suspected generalized anxiety disorder.
Around 90 percent of those surveyed had used artificial intelligence tools before. ” Many cited the technology’s constant availability and non-judgmental nature. The results were not a surprise, said Ludwig Franke Föyen, a psychologist and digital health researcher at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institutet.
Current large language models can produce high-quality responses, he told Reuters. Föyen’s own research suggested even licensed professionals may struggle to distinguish AI-generated advice from that of human experts. He warned against relying on chatbots alone for mental health support.
“AI can offer information and support, but it should not replace human relationships or professional care,” Franke Föyen said. “If someone turns to a chatbot instead of speaking to a parent, a friend, or a mental health professional, that is a concern. ” Concerns over the psychological impact of AI tools have grown.
Earlier this year, the family of a Florida man sued Google, alleging its Gemini AI chatbot contributed to his paranoia and eventual suicide.
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