Growing AI Addiction and Social Crisis Among Japanese Teenagers

July 7, Kathmandu – In Japan, a minor boy was seriously injured during an assault by a group of five girls, including one who sought to use artificial intelligence (AI) for guidance on how much ransom or compensation to demand from the victim rather than seeking help from people or friends. The incident requiring hospital treatment occurred in January in Hachioji city, Tokyo, revealing a deepening social problem in Japan.

Experts observe that Japanese teenagers are naturally turning to AI for advice rather than exercising their own judgment, sometimes even using AI to guide criminal activities. Police reports state the assaulted high school student was seriously injured, and charges have been filed against all five girls.

The matter gained wider attention only after the May 25 arrest of Shinsuke Abe, a famous baseball manager in Japan, on allegations of assaulting his daughter. Abe, 47, manager of the renowned Yomiuri Giants team, was arrested at his Tokyo residence under suspicion of beating his 18-year-old daughter. He resigned from his position the next day.

According to media reports, Abe admitted to losing his temper and throwing his daughter to the floor after she behaved uncomfortably while he tried to mediate a quarrel between his two daughters.

His minor daughter immediately sought help by accessing ChatGPT and, based on the responses, contacted a child counseling center. This was her first time reaching out to child protection services and she promptly informed the police, which led to her father’s arrest.

In a statement released on May 26, the daughter expressed being shocked and emotional upon seeing the police arrest her father. Meanwhile, prosecutors in Tokyo have announced a suspension of the case against Abe. While he may receive legal relief, his reputation and sports career have been severely damaged.

Isao Ehizen, a professor of information security at Japan’s National Institute of Informatics and father of three, expressed serious concern about the increasing AI addiction among children. He explained, “Many Japanese children are addicted to using AI. It’s easy to use, available 24/7, and consulting AI is often more comfortable than talking with family or friends.”

Ehizen emphasized that the problem is not the technology but the input humans provide—operating by the ‘garbage in, garbage out’ principle. He noted that information humans supply combined with incomplete or incorrect background knowledge from children results in inaccurate AI responses.

According to a government report released on May 1, 52.4 percent of Japanese teenage girls consult AI for their personal problems. Additionally, over 30 percent of women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s also prefer seeking AI advice on personal matters, whereas the figure is less than 30 percent for men.

Among these, more than 38 percent trust AI guidance regarding personal relationships and social interactions, with the trust level rising to 63.1 percent among teenage girls.

While Japan monitors the potential negative effects of AI, the United States has seen several lawsuits against OpenAI, accusing ChatGPT of spreading misinformation and encouraging four individuals to commit suicide. A lawsuit filed last year in California by the Social Media Victims Center and Tech Justice Project described the technology as “dangerously flattering and psychologically manipulative.” OpenAI was contacted for comment but no further details were provided.

Izumi Suzuka, a professor of cultural sociology at Chuo University in Tokyo and member of the Japan Youth Study Group, says despite the risks, Japanese youth are more drawn to easy AI usage compared to their peers internationally. She explains, “Students report having nearly 100 friends but lack truly close companions to seek advice on complex life issues. To preserve friendships, they avoid difficult questions and tend to turn to AI for support.”

According to Suzuka, teenagers seek AI advice on topics ranging from homework to romantic relationships. She stresses the necessity of age restrictions on AI usage, similar to controls on social media access, warning that without such regulations the situation could worsen.

Ehizen agrees on the need for strict rules and safety standards to protect youth. He said, “Today’s teenagers will hold responsible positions in society and companies in the future. If they rely on AI for most decisions now, when will they learn to make decisions independently? It seems all their knowledge and experiences will be confined to AI. This situation deeply worries me.”