In a commentary, SMU Vice President (Partnerships and Engagement) and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication & Technology Lim Sun Sun, noted that while chatbots can offer accessible mental health support, they lack genuine empathy, and rely on statistically driven responses that may reflect biased data. She cautioned that users – especially young people – risk becoming overly reliant on AI advice and may face data privacy concerns. Prof Lim stressed that teenagers, in particular, still require guidance during their formative years, and parents have a crucial role in educating them about the limitations and risks of viewing chatbots as friends or confidants.
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