Insights

In Tehran, Iran, the unrest from a recent war led to significant emotional distress for many, especially young adults. Roxana, a 31-year-old shop manager, found herself isolated and fearful, coping with the absence of her family and therapist, who had left the country due to escalating violence. During this time of crisis, she turned to ChatGPT to find solace and information, due to the limited trustworthiness of local state media and the prevalence of censorship in the country. With various news sites blocked, and the official narrative presenting a distorted reality, Roxana sought help from the AI to navigate through overwhelming uncertainty. Throughout the conflict, which resulted in substantial casualties, including claims from the Iranian government of over 600 deaths, Roxana struggled with spiraling anxiety and loneliness. The emotional weight of bills and other daily pressures also added to her distress, as she expressed that she felt as if her generation had been abandoned. This demographic, primarily consisting of under 30s, has faced challenging economic circumstances, including severe unemployment that exacerbated feelings of hopelessness and disconnection from society. Amid ongoing anxiety and despair, Roxana turned to video games as a refuge, specifically Life is Strange, after losing her previous virtual life in The Sims due to an account hack. For her, these digital spaces provided a temporary escape from her grim reality. They allowed her to construct and manage lives that she had lost control of in real life. Losing access to her created family felt particularly devastating at a time when the actual world was equally chaotic, contributing to her ongoing struggle to find stability and meaning in a war-torn environment. Roxana’s story highlights the complexities of life for young Iranians during times of conflict, where the intersection of personal struggle and sociopolitical turmoil leads to feelings of abandonment. In her pursuit of peace and normalcy, she navigated through both AI and gaming as coping mechanisms, illustrating how technology can serve as both a source of solace and information in uncertain times. Roxana, along with others in her generation, continues to hope for a calm, peaceful existence amidst the relentless challenges facing her and her community.