Repository Feedback

Your feedback helps us improve the repository's content relevance and usability. Please share your thoughts to help us better serve researchers and practitioners.

Submit feedback

Submit a research study

Contribute to the repository:

Add a paper

The Role of Al in Peer Support for Young People: A Study of Preferences for Human- and Al-Generated Responses

Authors
Jordyn Young,
Laala M Jawara,
Diep N Nguyen,
Brian Daly,
Jina Huh-Yoo,
Afsaneh Razi
Date
Publisher
arXiv
Link
http://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.02711v1
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is integrated into everyday technology, including news, education, and social media. AI has further pervaded private conversations as conversational partners, auto-completion, and response suggestions. As social media becomes young people's main method of peer support exchange, we need to understand when and how AI can facilitate and assist in such exchanges in a beneficial, safe, and socially appropriate way. We asked 622 young people to complete an online survey and evaluate blinded human- and AI-generated responses to help-seeking messages. We found that participants preferred the AI-generated response to situations about relationships, self-expression, and physical health. However, when addressing a sensitive topic, like suicidal thoughts, young people preferred the human response. We also discuss the role of training in online peer support exchange and its implications for supporting young people's well-being. Disclaimer: This paper includes sensitive topics, including suicide ideation. Reader discretion is advised.
Study at a glance
  • Question: Do young people prefer human- or AI-generated responses when seeking peer support online?
  • Setting and data: 622 young people evaluating responses to help-seeking messages
  • Method: Online survey evaluating blinded human- and AI-generated responses
Why it matters

As social media becomes young people's main method of peer support exchange, we need to understand when and how generative AI can facilitate and assist in such exchanges in a beneficial, safe, and socially appropriate way.

Key findings
  • In an online survey of 622 young people, participants preferred AI-generated responses over human replies for relationship and self-expression concerns.
  • Participants preferred AI-generated responses over human responses when seeking peer support for physical health issues.
  • Young people preferred human responses over AI-generated options when addressing sensitive topics like suicidal thoughts.

Summary drafted with AI from the paper’s abstract and may contain errors. See the full paper for details.

What is the application?
Communicating / Social Tools
Who is the user?
Others
Who age?
Post-Secondary
Why use AI?
Outcomes – Social Emotional
Study design
Quantitative – Others
Download PDF