Chatbots are a generative artificial intelligence technology, designed to simulate a relationship with users.

In their short existence, chatbots have created measured harm to teens, including sexual grooming, abuse, and encouragement with coaching on suicide. These are just a few of the documented harms. Chatbot interactions have directly led to the suicides of multiple youth in the U.S.[1] One of the parents who testified last fall before the Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary shared how ChatGPT mentioned “suicide” with his teenage son 1,275 times. According to the parent testifier, ChatGPT mentioned this six times more than the user had mentioned it himself. After the teen shared that he wanted to create a safeguard for his family to rescue him from his suicide attempt, ChatGPT encouraged him to not create this safeguard and “offered to write a suicide note.”

Companies designing chatbots must be held accountable for consumer protection of minor users. Minnesota statute should protect minors from these companies by outlawing chatbot companies from interacting with minors for recreational purposes.

[1] YouTube. (2025,September 19). ‘Every Parent’s Worst Nightmare’: Chairman Hawley Exposes AIChatbots For Harming Children. YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLyu6OGA5UM

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