The Costs of Youth Attachment to AI Companions with Pilyoung Kim, PhD

The Costs of Youth Attachment to AI Companions with Pilyoung Kim, PhD

Author: Children and Screens February 11, 2026 Duration: 52:47
AI “friends” and companions are increasingly providing children and adolescents with social interactions and perceived “relationships,” despite being a technology that itself has no need for empathy or emotional reciprocity. What are the costs of attachment to these AI products to children and adolescents’ social skill development? On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry is joined by Dr. Pilyoung Kim, Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Denver a...

How do screens really shape the minds, bodies, and daily lives of young people? Screen Deep, from the nonprofit Children and Screens, moves beyond simple headlines and fear-based narratives to explore that complex reality. Host Kris Perry engages in thoughtful, detailed conversations with top researchers, pediatricians, and psychologists, unpacking the nuanced effects of digital media on child and adolescent development. Each episode focuses on a specific angle-whether it's the impact on sleep, attention, physical fitness, social skills, or mental well-being-grounding every discussion in current science and practical evidence. This isn't about prescribing a single solution but about understanding the multifaceted relationship kids have with technology. The podcast provides parents, educators, and anyone invested in youth with a clearer, more balanced perspective, translating academic studies into relatable insights. You'll hear experts explain not just the potential risks, but also the realities of digital engagement, offering grounded strategies for fostering healthy habits in a connected age. Tune in for a deeper, more informed dialogue that helps navigate the pressing questions of raising kids in a digital world.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 32

Screen Deep
Podcast Episodes
Does AI Help Students Learn? With Adam Dubé, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:18
Schools are increasingly deploying AI-powered technologies in classrooms that promise to revolutionize education, yet there is growing concern over the risks to children and adolescents’ learning by doing so. What do chi…
Is My Child Ready for a Smartphone? With Adam Pletter, PsyD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:09
A child’s first smartphone is a modern "rite of passage" and today's parents face a challenging decision – when is the right time? Peer pressure and fear of missing out loom heavily, yet there are significant risks to in…
Phones in Schools?  What the Research Says with Abe Flanigan, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:41
Should phones be allowed in the classroom? On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks with Dr. Abraham Flanigan, an associate professor of educational psychology at Georgia Southern University about what phone…