Online symposium Digital connectedness? Children, young people, AI and the new forms of relationships

More and more young people are seeking advice from AI systems - for school stress, lovesickness or loneliness. Chatbots such as ChatGPT or Replika are becoming digital conversation partners that "always listen, never judge". Studies show that young people talk to AI about their worries because they experience empathy and understanding - but also because real-life support is often difficult to access.

But what does this mean for us as professionals in counseling, therapy and youth welfare?

In the online symposium, we will take a closer look at the latest findings from research and practice:

• Why do young people develop emotional relationships with AI?
• What needs, wishes and gaps are behind this?
• Where are the opportunities and where are the clear boundaries?
• How is AI changing our counseling and relationship culture?

We will discuss what consequences these developments have for social work, open youth work and psychosocial counseling practice and what skills professionals now need to be able to respond to these new realities.

Contents

• Insight into current studies
• Overview of chatbot use and young people's relationship experiences
• Professional classification: AI as a "counselor" - opportunities and risks
• Reflection: relationship skills, empathy and the limits of AI
• Discussion: Effects on social work, counseling and education
• Practical impulses: How can professionals talk to young people about AI and strengthen media skills? And how can professionals themselves use AI in their work?

Further information: https://istb-rheinmain.de/dgsf-online-fachtag-digitale-verbundenheit-kinder-jugendliche-ki-und-die-neuen-formen-von-beziehung