Human-to-Human Contact in Decline: What Does it Mean?
A recent Harris Poll reveals a dramatic shift in how younger people interact with technology. The exact breakdown of the 50% of Gen Z that are open to AI relationships includes:
- 15% state they are already in a romantic or deeply personal relationship with an AI.
- 19% are open to it.
- 16% are curious about it.
Key Drivers Behind the Trend of AI Relationships
AI itself states that experts and researchers point to several distinct factors that make these “AI-lationships” appealing to younger generations:
- The Illusion of Safety: According to The Harris Poll’s research, 45% of young users who choose AI over a human for support do so because they feel it provides a safe space free of judgment, shame, or fear.
- Accessibility and Cost: 30% of users appreciate that AI companions offer 24/7 validation and act as a sounding board at any time of night, making it far cheaper and more immediate than traditional human support systems.
- Deep Personalization: Over half (54%) of Gen Z and millennials feel their AI companion knows them better than mainstream consumer brands do.
Here’s the problem. Despite engagement, Gen Z is simultaneously highly skeptical and anxious about the long-term impacts of this trend. The data highlights a strong conflict: 74% of Gen Z worry that a heavy reliance on AI will result in long-term emotional detachment from other humans, and 63% report that they are already losing emotional attachment to people in their offline lives.
Cyberpsychology expert and licensed therapist Dr. Rachel Wood says that people are using chatbots in different ways, including turning to AI with dating questions. Some are taking texts or messages they receive and feeding them into a chatbot, then responding with what the chatbot suggests instead of what they think. In some cases, people are turning to AI for romantic companionship, Wood said.
Wood said it doesn’t all immediately start with people seeking a romantic relationship. It often begins with teenagers using chatbots for homework help or meal planning. Then, slowly, young people begin opening up emotionally, creating a pathway to forming a deep personal relationship with AI.
The Importance of Developing Social Skills
It may be obvious to some that the problem is failing to develop the social skills necessary to seek and maintain the characteristic traits of behavior that are necessary for meaningful relationships.
Nicole Ellison, professor at the University of Michigan specializing in computer-mediated communication, said one of the reasons young people use AI to talk about certain issues is because of the high cost of professional therapy.
Relying on chatbots to draft messages, settle relationship arguments, or act as a therapist, stunts face-to-face communication. Experts note that “friction” in real human interaction is necessary to build emotional resilience and depth.
It may not be emotionally healthy for Gen Z to get constant validation and instant responses from AI romantic partners because they teach them unhealthy expectations for real-world relationships. This can lead to increased vulnerability to rejection, poor conflict resolution, and intense dating relationships that cannot be managed in a healthy manner and may even turn violent.
Like most things in life, we learn from our mistakes. Dating relationships are no different. A variety of dating partners is key to developing long-standing relationships built on compassion, empathy and trust. It’s only through human contact that these skills can be developed. As the ancient Greeks knew, we learn by doing—developing healthy habits.
Is There Help for Gen Z?
The solution, at least in part, is for Gen Z to discuss dating matters, commitment, values, and so on in a “safe space.” This could mean in the classroom starting at a young age. In fact, I believe starting in middle school, if not sooner, there should be a class on “Building Healthy Relationships.” The closest it comes to this currently is a home economics course that involves practical life skills and vocational education in food preparation, personal finance, textiles and sewing, and human development.
About 6,000 U.S. schools still offer traditional home economics classes, which were officially renamed “Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)” in 1994. However, enrollment in secondary FCS programs dropped by 38% over a single decade (from roughly 5.6 million down to 3.5 million students.
These programs faced steep cutbacks due to a greater focus on standardized test scores, budget constraints, and a shortage of certified teachers. However, Gen Z interest and a growing demand for practical self-sufficiency—such as cooking, sewing, and budgeting—have driven renewed interest in these life skills, though availability still varies heavily by state and school district.
Many teens and young adults are opting for trades and certificate programs instead of four-year universities today. A report from payroll company Gusto found there were two million fewer students in four-year colleges in 2024 than in 2011, largely due to increasing cost. Additionally, 18 to 25-year-olds make up a growing share of new hires in trades, rising 4% each year since 2019.
Regardless of career plans, some Gen Z students also feel unprepared for adulthood. Students reported that they lacked skills like managing personal finances, sewing clothes or even doing their own laundry. Some colleges have added Adulting 101 resources and classes, but psychologists and students are asking for that education to begin earlier.
In the face of rising prices and mass production, other Gen Z students are seeking more sustainable lifestyles. Making their own clothes enables them to disconnect from fast fashion. Growing gardens, canning and making homemade chicken stock are ways students say they’re taking control of their food and embracing sustainability.
The Shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School
The bottom line is we live in a society where the inability of youngsters to develop healthy relationships, which can also build confidence and self-esteem, is in decline. This is why, in part, there is so much school violence. Gen Z (14-29 years old) are increasingly acting out in an unhealthy manner. Just think about what happened at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend Oregon last Friday. A 16-year-old broke through security through a side entrance and fired as many as 15 rounds, killing a teacher and three children.
The shooter was a special needs student. He attacked a special needs classroom before being killed at the scene himself. Why did he do it? We don’t know yet, although it’s likely clues will be unveiled as the authorities peruse the assailant’s social media presence. What we do know is that the attacker used a shotgun purchased by his mother. Perhaps parents should enroll in a program that teaches healthy parenting. But that’s a topic for a future blog.
Blog posted by Steven Mintz, PhD, professor emeritus from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, on October 19, 2026. You can contact Dr. Mintz at: smintz@caloly.edu. Visit his website to find out more about his activities.