Millions of Children Are Turning to AI for Life Advice

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AI is now a part of almost everyone’s daily life. But what happens when our children start becoming dependent on it?

A survey conducted by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that more than 2 million children, or one in ten, regularly use AI. They turn to it for life advice, to share their worries, and for help with schoolwork and homework.

The study further reported that children are adopting AI three times faster than adults. This is a major cause for concern, considering that AI is still a technology we know relatively little about and one for which governments have yet to establish adequate safeguards.

We are already aware of the negative effects of gadgets, which is why many parents have adopted safety measures such as limiting screen time, delaying smartphone use, and installing parental control apps.

With AI, our children are exposed to many of the same harmful effects associated with the internet and technology, and even more. AI can stunt development in several ways. It can harm children’s emotional and mental well-being as they begin relying on AI more than on real human connections. It may also slow cognitive development because AI increasingly does the thinking for them.

The survey also reported that one-third of the children, particularly the older participants, are aware of the risks technology can pose. These include the misuse of their personal information for scams and the spread of misinformation about them.

Meanwhile, one-fourth expressed concern that their personal images could be turned into AI-generated sexually explicit content or deepfakes.

Despite many children being aware of AI’s potential risks, they continue using it and remain largely unprotected. Children are especially vulnerable because they have little control over how their personal data is used and are still learning how to navigate technology responsibly.

First, talk to your children about how they use AI. Start by asking what they use it for, then discuss the potential risks. From there, gradually encourage them to rely on AI less while offering practical alternatives.

Another step you can take is to disable AI features on their devices and use parental controls or device-level restrictions where available. As parents, you can also lead by example by limiting your own AI use. Showing your children that it’s possible to solve problems, learn, and live without relying on AI can be a powerful lesson. After all, we’ve lived without AI for most of our lives and managed just fine.

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