A researcher at The Rithm Project, a nonprofit focused on human connection in the age of AI, Lee asked: Why not? “We’ve created this set of conditions where young people don’t feel like they have permission to be their real, unfiltered selves,” she told The 74 for this story. 53% of young people say they set clear boundaries with AI, using it alongside — not instead of — human support. Rajesh, who’s studying information science and AI policy, said his own AI use crept up on him: He went from studying with Claude to creating personalized AI study guides to wondering if even attending class mattered. Rajesh said adults should be asking directly whether young people are using AI to process emotions, to rehearse hard conversations and to get support when they’re struggling.