1 in 5 High Schoolers Report AI Romantic Relationships as Schools Face Rising Data Breaches and Student Disconnection

Oct 10, 2025
NPR
Article image for 1 in 5 High Schoolers Report AI Romantic Relationships as Schools Face Rising Data Breaches and Student Disconnection

Summary

A shocking new national survey reveals nearly 20% of high schoolers report romantic relationships with AI while schools struggle with surging data breaches, deepfake harassment, and students becoming increasingly disconnected from teachers as AI usage skyrockets.

Key Points

  • Nearly 1 in 5 high schoolers report having or knowing someone who has had a romantic relationship with AI, while 42% use AI for companionship according to a new national survey
  • Schools with higher AI usage experience more data breaches, AI-generated deepfakes used for harassment, and system failures that damage community trust in educational institutions
  • Students in AI-heavy schools report feeling less connected to teachers and face inadequate training on AI limitations, with only 11% of teachers receiving guidance on addressing harmful AI usage

Tags

Read Original Article