With AI regulations still in the air, the new report reveals trends about how children interact with artificial intelligence.
The study shows that some children and teens are turning their eyes to AI chatbots for conversations about sensitive topics such as sex. The report also spends more time chatting with AI online than texting friends.
Experts warn that some children may be confused by real relationships and chatbots.
Children having longer conversations with AI than their friends
As the use of artificial intelligence continues to spread, more and more children are turning to it for dating.
These are the findings of a new report from Aura Company Aura, a digital protection service provider. They discovered that some children were having conversations with AI chatbots 10 times longer than texts they send to friends.
In Aura's findings, the company found a message to the Genai companion app. The average was 163 words per message. A typical iMessage is only 12 words.
“We have 8-year-olds and 10-year-olds who are seen in the data using these platforms,” said Dr. Scott Collins, Aura's chief medical officer.
In analyzing how children use technology, Aura discovered AI interactions ranging from homework and mental health themes to sharing personal information and even sexual and romantic role-playing.
“The concern that raises me not only as a psychologist, but also as a parent is that I serve some purpose for my children in terms of social interaction,” Collins said. “But if it becomes an alternative to learning how to interact and engage in real life, it presents some major unknowns and potential problems for child development.”
Experts warn of developmental risks
Experts say these potential problems can arise due to lack of emotional maturity to understand interactions with AI.
Link to Dr. Joanna: https://www.healthychildren.org/english/family-life/media/pages/are-ai-chatbots-safe-for-kids.aspx
“They can really be attached to AI chatbots and think that's human because they have more magical thinking than adults,” Dr. Joanna Parga Belinky said.
Parga-Belinkie is a pediatrician and neonatologist. She is not involved in the research of Aura, but says chatbots can be dangerous for younger users.
“AI provides the user information that users want to hear,” she explained.
Parents urged me to set boundaries
Experts say it's important for parents to take steps to tell their children about the safe and appropriate uses of AI.
Kollins points out that while many people are familiar with ChatGpt and several other popular AI chatbots, there are actually hundreds of AI tools. He says parents need to check which apps their children are downloading and be able to set appropriate boundaries.
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Uncertainty about AI policy
There are organizations like the non-profit Common Sense Media that promote the ban on meta AI chatbots for children under the age of 18.
This month, First Lady Melania Trump called on the private and public sectors to prepare children for the growth of AI.
For now, the uncertainty of AI policies for children remains. Experts advise parents to monitor their child's mobile phones, ask questions, and talk about the risks of sharing personal information.
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