Although the article outlines various ways AI can be helpful for social workers and clients alike, I do not agree with the use of AI as a replacement for social work practice. One example mentioned is Pyx Health, which offers an app designed to communicate with individuals experiencing chronic loneliness. While the app’s intention to fill the void of loneliness is commendable, I do not believe that any app can substitute for the human connection that is vital to daily life. Overreliance on technology to address loneliness risks creating an imbalance where individuals become accustomed to interacting with chatbots, thereby diminishing their ability to connect with real people and navigate social cues and interpersonal awareness. AI is not a friend and cannot replace the essential human interaction necessary for personal development. It can serve as a useful tool from time to time, but excessive dependence on chatbots for emotional support fosters a co-dependency that lacks the empathy critical to social work practice.

One exception I do align with is the Mindfulness Coach app, designed to tailor mindfulness exercises to specific needs such as managing symptoms of PTSD, depression, or anxiety. This app provides resources and guidance to help users develop mindfulness practices that can be incorporated into daily life (Reamer 2023)  This type of technology is beneficial because it does not offer counseling per se, helping individuals explore their emotions requires a human practitioner employing critical thinking, empathy, and psychosocial assessment skills to address trauma and its impacts. Instead, the app provides tools to manage daily stressors. Teaching clients coping techniques, like the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method or breathing exercises, empowers them to manage anxiety symptoms. This represents a balanced integration of AI as a supplemental resource rather than a replacement for human connection and professional care.

Another factor I had not fully considered, but which the article highlighted, is the legal risk involved in using AI in social work. Social workers providing reproductive health services in states where abortion is illegal must be aware that prosecutors could subpoena electronically stored information (Reamer 2023) This is deeply concerning because social workers must be licensed in the state where their clients reside, posing jurisdictional challenges. Moreover, the risk of digital footprints, such as online searches, cookies, and stored communications, being used against clients or practitioners is very real. In today’s surveillance society, information shared online is rarely private. This reality contradicts the core ethical values of social work and raises significant concerns about confidentiality and client safety.

Despite the benefits AI may offer, I cannot fully endorse its use in social work practice. In my experience working at a crisis shelter for adolescents, many clients avoid discussing their problems with parents or guardians and instead turn to AI chatbots as confidants. I have encountered situations where clients rely heavily on AI-generated information, sometimes leading to self-diagnosis based on inaccurate or incomplete data. This is dangerous, as it can reinforce stigma and result in misdiagnosis. Breaking clients’ dependence on AI as a primary source of information is challenging because they have become so accustomed to it. Although AI can be a helpful adjunct, it cannot replace a licensed practitioner who has undergone extensive education, training, and ethical commitments.

At my practicum site and workplace, Kids in Crisis, a respite crisis shelter for adolescents, I have observed firsthand the significant social skill deficits among many clients, largely attributable to overreliance on technology. One policy that has been a point of contention is the prohibition of cell phones while youth are in the program. Although exceptions are made for extreme circumstances, most adolescents are not allowed to have their phones during their shelter stay, even if they attend school. Many youth struggle with this restriction, particularly at night. The program’s structured schedule often includes varying bedtimes based on the client’s level, which has led to complaints. A common difficulty is that many adolescents are accustomed to using their phones, scrolling through social media platforms like TikTok, until they fall asleep. The absence of this “safety net” leaves them feeling insecure and unsettled. Social media and technology have disrupted their sleep patterns and impaired their ability to self-soothe and fall asleep independently. Additionally, I have observed challenges related to academic work. Many youth struggle with spelling words they should know, largely because they have become reliant on autocorrect features. Mealtimes also present difficulties; many adolescents are used to having a screen, whether a tablet, phone, or television, on in the background while eating. The silence during meals in the program often feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable to them, leading to restlessness.

Despite these challenges, positive transitions are evident over the course of their stay. The youth, ranging in age from infancy to seventeen years old, gradually develop social skills and learn to interact more effectively with one another. Many have shared that, prior to the program, they could not imagine being friends with the other residents; yet, without the crutch of their phones, they are compelled to build connections, rapport, and relationships that provide comfort during a difficult transition. While these friendships may not last a lifetime, the sense of shared experience helps them cope.

From a clinical perspective, this highlights the importance of engaging guardians in conversations about limiting screen time, through parental controls or designated “phone-free” periods. One memorable case involved a family that communicated almost exclusively through texting, even when physically together. The shelter environment, which required phone restrictions, compelled them to speak in person or by phone, facilitating vulnerability and the rebuilding of their relationship in ways previously impossible. In this case, phone overuse served as a communication barrier rather than a bridge to connection.

Nonetheless, escaping technology’s pervasive influence is challenging, as it is deeply embedded in daily life. Even schools increasingly rely on digital platforms requiring authentication codes for access, further entrenching technology’s role. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered social interaction patterns, forcing much communication online and creating a generational gap in interpersonal skills. While there is still time to manage and limit technology use effectively, society’s rapid embrace of digital tools has inadvertently disadvantaged today’s adolescents by fostering excessive technological dependence.