Rebecca Ruiz is a Senior Reporter at Mashable. She frequently covers mental health, digital culture, and technology. Her areas of expertise include suicide prevention, screen use and mental health, parenting, youth well-being, and meditation and mindfulness. Rebecca's experience prior to Mashable includes working as a staff writer, reporter, and editor at NBC News Digital and as a staff writer at Forbes. Rebecca has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a masters degree from U.C. Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.
Areas of Expertise
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I 'dated' Character.AI's popular boyfriends, and parents should be worried
Experts evaluated our chats and explained the red flags.
Explaining the phenomenon known as 'AI psychosis'
"Psychosis thrives when reality stops pushing back, and AI can really soften that wall."
AI has entered the therapy session — and it's recording you
More therapists are recording sessions with AI, leading to concerns over consent and data breaches.
Latest From Rebecca Ruiz
OpenAI denies allegations in teen death lawsuit
The company instead cites Adam Raine's past suicidal risk and his violation of ChatGPT policies.
What to know before you buy an AI toy
AI toys may look fun, but there's a lot to understand about how they can affect your child.
Experts: AI chatbots unsafe for teen mental health
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Meta AI consistently failed expert testing.
TikTok debuts 'affirmation' journal, soothing sounds
The video platform is going all in on relaxation and mindfulness tools.
Want to chat on Roblox? You'll need to verify your age.
The gaming platform will soon require age estimation in order to chat with other users.
5 strategies to avoid ChatGPT dependency
Avoid getting hooked on an AI chatbot by taking these steps.
Waymo to start taking freeway rides in select cities
The autonomous vehicle company announced new freeway capabilities.
Sports bettors: Think twice about that parlay bet
Parlays can be a fun way to bet on games. They're also riskier than you think.
Gambling online? Try turning off push notifications.
FOMO is real, but experts say notifications may lead to risky behavior.
Lawsuits allege ChatGPT use led to suicide, psychosis
OpenAI is accused of design defects that had devastating consequences for users.
Discord launches new safety features following lawsuits
Parents will have more control and visibility of their teen's activity.
'Perfect predator': When chatbots sexually abuse kids
Chatbots can become sexually explicit — and traumatize young users.
Character.AI to shut down chats for teens
In the wake of safety concerns, the company's CEO called the move "bold."
ChatGPT safeguards allegedly relaxed before teen's death
Lawyers representing Adam Raine's family say the new allegations change the case.
Waymo under investigation for school bus incident
Federal regulators are looking into the robotaxi's failure to fully stop for a bus full of children.
New California law hopes to stop AI-assisted suicide among teens
Teen AI chatbot use has ended in tragedy. One state aims to improve safety.
Taylor Swift becomes the internet troll she loathes
Swift tries to reject internet culture on 'The Life of a Showgirl,' but certain songs channel the worst of it.
ChatGPT launches parental controls
The new features help parents turn off specific ChatGPT settings for their teen.
Colleges are giving students ChatGPT. Is it safe?
Mental health and legal experts say campuses should deploy AI chatbots with caution.
7 things to know about using an AI tutor
Using an AI learning chatbot as your study buddy? Here's how to set yourself up for success.
AI can't write your college admissions essay. Here's why.
Using AI for your personal statement could land you at the bottom of the pile.
Character.AI unsafe for teens, experts say
The AI companion platform engaged in sexual behavior with adult testers posing as teens.
Bathroom scrolling linked to higher risk of hemorrhoids, study shows
Can't help but read the news on the toilet? This research may change your mind.
4 reasons not to turn ChatGPT into your therapist
It may be tempting to try ChatGPT "therapy," but the risks aren't worth it, experts say.
How to safely chat with an AI boyfriend
Experts share tips for navigating relationships with toxic AI boyfriends.
