Blue Monday: artificial intelligence as a refuge from sadness
Who listens when no one else does?
More and more people are turning to artificial intelligence to talk about their emotions—but at what cost?
Amid sadness, loneliness, and the need to be heard, thousands of people are finding solace in places they never imagined: artificial intelligence. During emotionally challenging moments, such as Blue Monday, an increasing number of users are turning to chatbots to express their feelings.
This practice is growing across Latin America and sparks an urgent conversation about digital privacy and security. According to recent research by Kaspersky, 21% of Latin Americans who use AI tools report talking to chatbots when they feel sad or down.
This trend tends to intensify during emotionally sensitive dates like Blue Monday, considered the “saddest day of the year,” observed on the third Monday of January. It is associated with factors such as the weather, returning to routine after the holiday season, and year-end debts.
Emotions Online
In this context, people seek to be heard without judgment. The immediacy, constant availability, and absence of human emotional reactions have led many users to perceive AI as a “safe” space to vent.
However, this digital trust can lead to sharing personal information more freely than in other settings. The phenomenon is even more pronounced among young people.
Globally, 35% of Generation Z and millennials report using AI tools for emotional support, compared to 19% of people aged 55 and older. This generational gap reflects a shift in how emotions are managed— increasingly tied to digital platforms—without fully understanding the potential implications for privacy.
Data and Privacy
Although conversations with chatbots may feel intimate, most of these tools belong to commercial companies with data collection and processing policies.
This means that shared information—including discussions about moods or personal situations—can be stored and analyzed for various purposes. It is also exposed to cybersecurity risks.
María Isabel Manjarrez, Security Researcher at Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team, states:
“Speaking with AI chatbots without caution can expose users to privacy risks. Like any digital platform, these tools may have security vulnerabilities or be compromised, potentially leading to the leak of personal conversations containing sensitive information. There are also fake bots designed to collect personal data for malicious purposes such as fraud, identity theft, or extortion, which can even affect users emotionally. Moreover, not all the information provided is accurate and it does not replace professional support. That is why paying attention to what we share and seeking reliable sources and specialized help is crucial, especially regarding sensitive topics like our emotions. Digital security is also part of self-care.”
Key Recommendations
In this context, particularly on days like Blue Monday, specialists recommend taking precautions when interacting with AI tools.Key measures include reviewing privacy policies before starting a conversation, as some services use interactions to analyze behavior, personalize advertising, or train AI models.
It is also essential to avoid sharing sensitive, identifiable, or financial information, such as full name, date of birth, address, phone numbers, email addresses, passwords, or banking data.
Conversations should not be considered confidential and may be exposed in a security incident. Additionally, it is advised to verify the information provided by chatbots and seek professional support when necessary.
AI-generated responses can be incomplete, inaccurate, or biased and cannot replace guidance from mental health specialists. Finally, experts suggest using only trusted platforms, since anonymous or unknown bots may be designed to collect data for malicious purposes.
Protecting personal and digital information is also a key aspect of self-care in an increasingly connected environment.
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