Sewell Setzer III, a ninth-grader from Orlando, Florida, had been using Character.AI, an app that allows users to interact with AI-generated personas.

The lawsuit claims that Sewell became obsessed with a chatbot named “Dany,” based on Daenerys Targaryen from the hit HBO series Game of Thrones.

Over several months, the boy allegedly developed an emotional connection with the AI character, engaging in numerous conversations, some of which turned sexually suggestive. The AI chatbot failed to recognize or respond appropriately to Sewell’s expressions of suicidal thoughts.

Relationships in India in 2024 are evolving amidst a complex blend of cultural shifts, legal reforms, and persistent social norms.

As the country grapples with these changes, couples face unique challenges that shape their romantic lives in distinct ways.

Here, we explore some of the most pressing relationship issues in contemporary India, backed by social science and mental health research.

Narcissists often use their clothing choices as a way to project their ideal image to the world.

Their wardrobe becomes a tool to attract attention, establish control, and demand admiration.

While everyone enjoys looking good, narcissists take this to the extreme.

Here are eight peculiar wardrobe habits that can reveal a lot about a narcissist's mindset.

Poland is a country of deep cultural roots and rapid transformation, making it a fascinating landscape for relationships.

As a science-based couples therapist, I’ve seen how this intersection of tradition and modernity brings both richness and complexity to the way people connect.

From the powerful mother-daughter bond to the ongoing struggles with racism and alcoholism, Polish relationships are shaped by a unique set of cultural and social dynamics.

Let’s dive into these challenges, backed by insights from Polish social scientists, to understand what makes relationships in Poland both challenging and uniquely beautiful.

France has always been synonymous with romance, where the charm of Parisian streets is matched by a culture that values passion and emotional connection.

Yet, romance in France today is far from the 1960s' ideal of rebellious love and sexual liberation.

The cultural shifts over the past decades have transformed how French couples view love, intimacy, and partnership, blending a rich heritage with the nuances of modern life.

Love Might Be a Universal Language, but in Canada, the Dialects Differ from Coast to Coast

Relationships across the country can be shaped by regional quirks, from the open skies and small-town warmth of the Prairies to the bustling, multicultural life of big cities like Toronto and Vancouver.

For couples who hail from different parts of this vast country, navigating these differences can feel like trying to find common ground between a snowstorm in St. John’s and a rainy day in Victoria.

This post considers the unique challenges of cross-country love in Canada, exploring how regional cultural differences affect relationships and how couples can find balance in their diverse lifestyles.

Romance is a universal experience, but how it’s understood and practiced can vary greatly across cultures. In Canada, Indigenous peoples have rich traditions of love and courtship that are deeply intertwined with their cultural, spiritual, and communal identities.

When Indigenous people marry outside of their community—be it with non-Indigenous partners or individuals from different Indigenous nations—the resulting relationships can be both enriching and challenging.

This blog post explores the dynamics of romance among Canadian Indigenous people, focusing on what happens when they marry an outsider, and delving into the cultural, social, and emotional dimensions of these relationships. Drawing on social science research, we'll explore how couples navigate identity, traditions, and belonging.

Love in the Time of Housing Bubbles: How Economic Pressures Shape Relationships in Canada
In Canada, home is more than just where the heart is—it’s also the topic of every family dinner, a major source of stress for young couples, and, in some cities, a distant dream.

With sky-high prices in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and increasingly across the country, the Canadian housing bubble isn’t just a financial issue; it’s a relationship stressor.

For many couples, the struggle to buy a home—or even just afford rent—can put pressure on love in ways that their parents and grandparents may never have faced.

This post considers the unique challenges of the Canadian housing market, how they impact couples, and what research says about navigating financial strain without letting it come between you and your partner.

For many Canadians, winter isn’t just a season—it’s a way of life.

From the thrill of the first snowfall to cozy nights by the fire, there’s plenty to love about the cold months. But for some, the winter blues go much deeper than missing sunshine.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common issue across Canada, where long, dark winters can have a profound effect on mood and mental health.

And when one or both partners are struggling with SAD, it can put unique strains on a relationship. This post takes a deep dive into how SAD impacts couples and explores the best practices for managing it together.

In a country known for its multiculturalism, maple syrup, and hockey, it’s easy to think that blending into Canadian society would be a breeze.

But for immigrant couples, the process of adjusting to a new life in Canada can be anything but smooth. From navigating complex immigration laws to building a sense of community far from home, these couples face unique pressures that can test the strength of their relationship.

This post explores these challenges, how they affect couples, and what helps them thrive in their new environment.

In Canada, love sometimes involves more than just learning to compromise on dinner plans—it’s about navigating two languages, cultural traditions, and maybe even choosing whether to watch “Hockey Night in Canada” in French or English.

Welcome to the world of bicultural and bilingual relationships, where couples tackle everything from linguistic misunderstandings to cultural holidays, all while keeping the romance alive.

Balancing Two Languages at Home

In Canada, it’s not unusual to have relationships where one partner speaks English as their first language and the other speaks French—or maybe Punjabi, Mandarin, or Cree.

Bilingual households come with their own brand of humor, like mixing up words in each other’s languages or debating whether “franglais” counts as a legitimate form of communication.

Maintaining a relationship is hard enough, but when your partner is three provinces away, it’s like trying to cuddle with an electric blanket that only works on one end.

Welcome to the unique joys and challenges of long-distance love in Canada, where the only thing more confusing than the miles between you is figuring out the time zone difference for that virtual date.

The Challenges of Distance

Canada is enormous—so massive that if you live in Vancouver and your partner is in Halifax, you might as well be dating someone in Europe.

This geographic reality has shaped many Canadian love stories, creating unique challenges that come with being separated by thousands of kilometers.