AI-Enabled Wellbeing Technologies for Young People
Project Partners / Funders
Vodafone Ireland Foundation
Research Areas
AI, youth, well-being
Project Website(s)
https://www.dcu.ie/antibullyingcentre/projects/tozi-app-children-and-young-people-feel-good-online
Principal Investigators
Professor James O’Higgins Norman
Research Team Members
Dr Kanishk Verma
Dr Sinan Aşçı
Dr Carol O’Toole
Project Overview
This research project has been inspired by Tozi, our online safety app for children aged 11 to 15 years and is the result of our positive collaboration on Tozi with Vodafone Ireland Foundation.
Led by Kanishk Verma, the research team is undertaking a structured scoping review of academic and grey literature examining emerging AI-enabled digital tools designed to support young people’s wellbeing. The review focuses on technologies such as conversational agents, AI chatbots, digital companions, and related tools that aim to support emotional wellbeing, connection, help-seeking, or social belonging among adolescents (approximately ages 11–15).
The aim is to (1) map the emerging research landscape, (2) identify how AI-enabled wellbeing technologies are (a) conceptualised and (b) positioned within wider youth wellbeing ecosystems. The findings will contribute to a clearer understanding of how AI-enabled tools are emerging within the wider landscape of youth wellbeing supports and will help inform future research, policy discussions, and responsible innovation in this rapidly evolving area.
Project Goals
Identify the range and characteristics of AI-enabled wellbeing tools currently discussed in the literature and how they are intended to support young people’s emotional wellbeing, connection, and help-seeking.
Examine how young people’s perspectives and participation are incorporated into the design and development of such tools, highlighting examples of participatory or co-designed approaches.
Synthesise evidence regarding the opportunities and challenges associated with AI-mediated wellbeing supports for adolescents, including ethical considerations, safeguarding issues, and questions relating to trust, agency, and digital autonomy.
Identify gaps in the current evidence base and areas where further youth-centred research is needed, particularly in relation to the meaningful involvement of young people in shaping digital wellbeing technologies.