JakartaPost-July 22, 2026
Six of 10 surveyed Generation-Zers in Indonesia said they have used artificial intelligence platforms to confide about personal issues and discuss sensitive topics such as mental health, a recent survey has found. n a gloomy day, 26-year-old Primadita tends to run to popular artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT to vent whatever is bothering her mind. She sees the platform as a “cheap therapist”, with a monthly subscription for ChatGPT costing about Rp 300,000 (US$16.71) for extended conversations with the AI, roughly half the price of a one-hour counselling session with a psychologist. “For Rp 300,000, I can chat whenever I want, without worrying about the time limits,” Primadita said. Primadita is not alone, as a recent survey found that Indonesian Gen-Zers have been relying on AI platforms for emotional support. However, experts warn that chatbots cannot replace genuine human connection, while also posing threats to the users’ personal data. A survey conducted by digital literacy NGO Digital Resilience Indonesia Foundation (DiRi) found that 59.4 percent of Gen-Z respondents had confided personal issues to AI chatbots, discussing topics such as mental and physical health; family and relationships; education and future plans. According to the 2020 population census by Statistic Indonesia (BPS), Gen-Z comprises 75.5 million individuals, around 28 percent of the country’s population of 270 million. While acknowledging the survey may not represent the real conditions on the ground, DiRi researcher Haris Fatwa said the findings reflected young people’s growing need for safe spaces where they could express themselves without fear of judgment. But through the survey, the group also wanted to urge young people to exercise “critical judgment” when using such platforms, as heavily relying on AI platforms for emotional support may pose potential hazards. “AI is merely a technological tool,” Haris said, “and it cannot replace interpersonal relationships or the social support that only other human beings can provide.” Some respondents to the survey acknowledged the risk of venting to AI with regard to their personal data protection. While around 89 percent of respondents believed the platform stored their conversations, nine of 10 informants found the privacy policies of AI chatbots unclear. Around three-quarters of people interviewed for the report claimed they were worried that their personal data could be misused. Read more at:
