Your child's AI obsession: identifying risks and building digital safety
More children every day are showing interest in AI chatbots. With their rapidly growing prevalence, kids may now use them for schoolwork, curiosity, or even just for entertainment. At first glance, this trend may seem harmless, but it can open up families to new risks.
You may not see the danger at first because it feels helpful or friendly on the surface. That’s why, we’re going to look at what we know about the rise of AI in children’s lives. We’ll look closely at the risks that are involved and give you some actionable ways for children to use AI more safely.
A closer look at children’s AI use
In the last year, children have begun using AI chatbots far more often than many adults realise. They ask questions about school subjects, hobbies, feelings, and even social issues. Some children treat these tools like interactive companions, while others explore them to see how far they can push the conversation. Nearly three-quarters of teens have used AI companion chatbots.
This rapid growth is linked to easy access. Most AI chatbots sit inside regular browsers or apps, so kids can reach them without downloading anything unusual. They also respond instantly, which makes them appealing to young users who want quick answers.
Parents often discover this trend only after seeing search history or hearing new terms at home. The concern is not curiosity itself. The concern is that children explore these tools before they understand how to judge the information or protect their own data.
Risks parents and educators should keep an eye on
A major risk of AI chatbots is that they can easily create a false sense of safety. They use all the right language to convey confidence, even when the information itself may be horribly wrong. Children might accept these answers as fact because of the certainty of the source. This can have a massive impact on schoolwork, critical thinking, decision-making, and even the development of trust in adults.
Some chatbots also generate content that simply isn’t suitable for children. Kids might ask innocent questions that can move the conversation into themes that are too grown-up, too intense, or even just confusing for a child. On top of that, they may not speak up when it happens, out of worry that they did something wrong.
Privacy is another big risk. Most chatbots retain information during long conversations, essentially creating “memories”. If children share personal details or sensitive information, that data could get stored unknowingly.
Then there are the potential concerns of emotional influence. Some chatbots are designed to act as companions. In children who don’t know better, this may lead to forming an attachment or to becoming overly reliant on the tool for comfort.
Building a protective strategy for families and educators
A strong safety plan will always start with consistent family support. This means steady family rules. Many households already collaborate on limits for games and social apps, and that same strategy can work for AI models. Simply set times when the kids are allowed to use AI apps or platforms in shared spaces of the home where device use is allowed. This keeps it out in the open, while giving you the chance to step in if things take an odd turn.
Also, make an effort to talk openly with your child about AI and what they’re reading or asking online. Ask them to show you a few of their recent prompts and tell you why they asked those things. You’re not trying to intrude or catch them in anything, just getting a broader understanding of their use of technology.
Teach children basic judgment skills in simple language. Explain clearly that chatbots don’t know them personally, and that they don’t always have the right answer. Encourage your child to fact-check. Show them how to pause before sharing information that may be personal.
Finally, remember that technical protection matters too. Many children use school laptops, tablets, or shared home devices. Some also jump on public Wi-Fi when out with friends. This is where families often turn to search for the best VPN service online for free and open internet because a VPN creates a private path for their internet traffic. It keeps browsing activity and conversations hidden from outside parties.
Guidance on AI with steady support
Children are exploring AI tools earlier and more often, and that trend is only growing. Parents and educators across the continent will get far better results if they face this trend with calm, steady support, instead of apprehension. Straightforward rules, trusted communication, and device security are three layers of safety that can give children a far safer path forward, online.
This content was provided by a third party
