Emerging Technologies and Mediation: Artificial Intelligence for the Peaceful Management of Youth Conflicts

Abstract

Nowadays, adolescents face multiple conflicts in both school and digital environments, which affect their subjective well-being and the overall climate of coexistence. Mediation has been consolidated as an effective peacebuilding strategy; however, new virtual scenarios demand the integration of innovative tools. Among them, artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies offer significant potential for the prevention, detection, and peaceful management of youth conflicts. This article presents a narrative review of academic literature and institutional reports analyzing the role of AI in socio-emotional support, and both school and digital mediation. Highlighted applications include guidance chatbots, algorithms for the early detection of aggressive language, and emotional support platforms. The article also examines expected benefits —such as violence prevention, promotion of digital coexistence, and youth empowerment— alongside risks, including data privacy concerns, the dehumanization of mediation processes, and inequalities in access to technology. Finally, a conceptual framework is proposed in which AI is conceived as a complement, not a substitute, to human mediation, emphasizing the need for ethical and regulated use in fostering youth peacebuilding.