AI Chatbots Fueling Teen Eating Disorders

Character.AI, a popular AI chatbot platform, is hosting pro-anorexia chatbots that encourage disordered eating behaviors among teens, offering dangerously low-calorie diets and excessive exercise routines. Despite its terms of service prohibiting content that glorifies self-harm, the platform's moderation efforts appear insufficient, allowing harmful chatbots to remain accessible. Experts warn that such content can normalize disordered thinking and discourage seeking professional help, posing significant risks to vulnerable users. Character.AI has pledged to improve safety measures, but concerns about user safety and content moderation persist.