➡️ Understanding how AI could be supportive/unhelpful to adolescents presenting with eating/body/appearance concerns is important

➡️ Working with adolescents +policymakers to improve AI literacy + regulate communications are key next steps

🗨️We facilitated conversations with chatbots +asked about eating/body weight/appearance as if we were teens:

🛑Advice was often framed within societal ideals relating to eating/body weight/appearance

🛑Chatbots signposted to trusted adults/HCPs for support but not regulated resources (e.g., NHS)(2/3)

⭐This highlights:

1️⃣negative consequences which may undermine apps' potential to promote behaviour change & wellbeing

2️⃣need for user-centred app design based on psychological theory, wellbeing + intrinsic motivation

Thanks Paulina Bondaronek, Lucy Porter, Tris Papakonstantinou & Maria Çeka! [3/3]

We observed:
🧠 key challenges + unintended consequences, inc. negative psychological + behavioural impacts
🎯 challenges logging real-world activities, meeting algorithm-set goals + negative impacts on emotions, motivation + engagement [2/3]

🍽️>87% gave babies/toddlers processed baby snacks regularly between meals
⭐Snacks were frequently used to quieten/entertain
📣Brand communications+on-pack claims guide food choices

Greater transparency+regulation of on-pack marketing could help parents make healthier food choices for babies/toddlers