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

Jordyn Young; Laala M. Jawara; Diep N. Nguyen; Brian Daly; Jina Huh-Yoo; Afsaneh Razi

doi:10.1145/3613904.3642574

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

Jordyn Young
, Laala M. Jawara
, Diep N. Nguyen
, Brian Daly
, Jina Huh-Yoo
, Afsaneh Razi

Department of Computer Science

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	CHI 2024 - Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems
ISBN (Electronic)	9798400703300
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3613904.3642574
State	Published - 11 May 2024
Event	2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems, CHI 2024 - Hybrid, Honolulu, United States Duration: 11 May 2024 → 16 May 2024

Publication series

Name	Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

Conference

Conference	2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems, CHI 2024
Country/Territory	United States
City	Hybrid, Honolulu
Period	11/05/24 → 16/05/24

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

AI-Mediated Communication (AI-MC)
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Chatbot
Human-AI Interaction (HAII)
LLM
Mental Health
Peer Support
Social Support
Youth

Access to Document

10.1145/3613904.3642574

Cite this

Young, J., Jawara, L. M., Nguyen, D. N., Daly, B., Huh-Yoo, J., & Razi, A. (2024). The Role of AI in Peer Support for Young People: A Study of Preferences for Human- and AI-Generated Responses. In CHI 2024 - Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems Article 1006 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings). https://doi.org/10.1145/3613904.3642574

@inproceedings{a788d153ed4d4b19abcb9bb3525bc791,

title = "The Role of AI in Peer Support for Young People: A Study of Preferences for Human- and AI-Generated Responses",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "AI-Mediated Communication (AI-MC), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Chatbot, Human-AI Interaction (HAII), LLM, Mental Health, Peer Support, Social Support, Youth",

author = "Jordyn Young and Jawara, \{Laala M.\} and Nguyen, \{Diep N.\} and Brian Daly and Jina Huh-Yoo and Afsaneh Razi",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 Copyright held by the owner/author(s); 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems, CHI 2024 ; Conference date: 11-05-2024 Through 16-05-2024",

year = "2024",

month = may,

day = "11",

doi = "10.1145/3613904.3642574",

language = "English",

series = "Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings",

booktitle = "CHI 2024 - Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems",

}

Young, J, Jawara, LM, Nguyen, DN, Daly, B, Huh-Yoo, J & Razi, A 2024, The Role of AI in Peer Support for Young People: A Study of Preferences for Human- and AI-Generated Responses. in CHI 2024 - Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems., 1006, Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings, 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems, CHI 2024, Hybrid, Honolulu, United States, 11/05/24. https://doi.org/10.1145/3613904.3642574

The Role of AI in Peer Support for Young People: A Study of Preferences for Human- and AI-Generated Responses. / Young, Jordyn; Jawara, Laala M.; Nguyen, Diep N. et al.
CHI 2024 - Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems. 2024. 1006 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

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T2 - 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems, CHI 2024

AU - Young, Jordyn

AU - Jawara, Laala M.

AU - Nguyen, Diep N.

AU - Daly, Brian

AU - Huh-Yoo, Jina

AU - Razi, Afsaneh

PY - 2024/5/11

Y1 - 2024/5/11

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - AI-Mediated Communication (AI-MC)

KW - Artificial Intelligence (AI)

KW - Chatbot

KW - Human-AI Interaction (HAII)

KW - LLM

KW - Mental Health

KW - Peer Support

KW - Social Support

KW - Youth

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M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85194880425

T3 - Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

BT - CHI 2024 - Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems

Y2 - 11 May 2024 through 16 May 2024

ER -

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

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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