How Tech and AI Are Reshaping Teen Moods, Minds, and Relationships
This week at Let’s All Talk Mental Health, we were joined by Dr. Charlotte Armitage for an interesting conversation on: How Tech and AI Are Reshaping Teen Moods, Minds, and Relationships.
It’s no secret that technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the way most people live their lives. Phones, tablets, and now even chatbots are part of our children’s daily world. But what does this mean for their moods, mental health and relationships? Psychologist, Dr. Armitage, founder of BeDeviceWise talked us through the upsides and the downsides, as well as some of the practical steps parents might want to consider.
Early Exposure: Why Timing Matters
We heard that children learn best through real-world interaction. Talking, playing, and exploring with parents and caregivers helps build speech, language, and social skills. When devices are introduced too early, they can get in the way of that all important, natural development.
Dr. Armitage mentioned that that constant device use in the early years can also set kids up for attention difficulties later on, which is why so many teachers are noticing more children struggling with focus and inattention when they start school.
The Dual Nature of Tech & AI
Both tech and AI are widely different, and their impact on teens is equally as varied:
Tech (phones, tablets, apps, games): Short-form content, endless scrolling, and constant notifications may reward young minds with instant gratification and a quick hit of dopamine, but over time this can reduce attention spans, disrupt sleep, make moods harder to manage, and ultimately make learning more difficult. On top of this, teens are also vulnerable to commercial algorithms, potentially harmful content, and material they may not yet be mature enough to process, alongside the influence of other people’s online behaviour.
AI (chatbots, virtual friends): These tools can feel supportive because they respond instantly and seem empathetic, but they can’t replace real friendships and it's not real empathy. Without experiencing the ups and downs of real-life relationships, teens may miss out on learning the social and emotional cues and skills they need to get by.
What Parents Notice
The effects show up in everyday family life. Maybe your teen is moody after too much TikTok, struggles to settle down for sleep after late-night screen time, or prefers chatting to a bot over talking to friends or family. These aren’t just “teen quirks”, they are examples of how powerful technology can be in shaping moods and behaviour.
Addressing the Challenges
The good news is, parents aren’t powerless. Dr. Armitage shared some simple but effective steps:
Keep talking: Have open, non-judgmental conversations with your teen about their tech use and digital wellbeing.
Set boundaries: Rules like “no devices in bedrooms” or “screens off an hour before bed” can really help.
Cut back gradually: Rather than banning screens, try reducing time slowly. Many families find this leads to better sleep, calmer moods, and more focus.
All for one - and one for all: Even the most resistant children copy what they see. Boundaries only work if they’re shared, consistent, and not just punitive. So if the rule is no tech in bedrooms at night, that applies to the whole family. Try to think less about fighting and more about uniting.
Encourage offline activities: Sports, music, hobbies, movies, family time, or just being outdoors all build resilience, patience, and real-world social skills.
Finding Balance
Technology and AI are here to stay. They can be exciting tools when used with parameters, but they also come with some risks. The challenge for us as parents isn’t to ban them, but to help our teens find a way to balance their use of them that enhances their wellbeing, and doesn't compromise how they live, learn and laugh.
As Dr. Armitage reminded us, with clear boundaries, open communication, and plenty of offline experiences, we can support our children to grow up connected, curious and resilient in this fast-changing digital world.