Advice for Parents

The world of technology is rapidly evolving, and your child is likely using products powered by generative AI. This is the technology behind tools that can create new content from a simple text prompt. From educational apps that write stories to art tools that create unique images, these products can be a source of creativity and learning.

This guide is designed to help you understand the risks and give you actionable steps to ensure your child’s experience with generative AI is both safe and positive.

What is Generative AI?

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create brand-new content. Unlike a traditional program that only performs a set task, generative AI learns from vast amounts of existing data to produce original text, images, audio, or other media. This is the technology that allows a product to draw a picture from a simple command like “a superhero fighting a dragon” or write a story on a specific topic.

What Are the Risks?

While many child-friendly AI products have built-in safety features, their nature introduces unique and evolving risks.

  • Unpredictable content: generative AI can “hallucinate” or create unexpected and factually incorrect information or even inappropriate images, text, or audio.
  • Encouraging unhealthy habits: these products are often designed to be highly engaging, which can lead to over-reliance or dependency, potentially harming social development and screen-time habits.
  • Privacy concerns: AI models learn from user input. The data your child shares, including their creative ideas or personal details, could be stored and used, raising significant privacy concerns.

What Can I Do?

Your active involvement and open communication are the most powerful tools for keeping your child safe.

 

1. Start with an Open Conversation

  • Ask and listen: talk to your child about the products that use generative AI they use. Ask what they like to create and if they have ever seen something that made them feel uncomfortable, confused, or upset.
  • Explain the technology: in simple terms, explain that the AI is a tool, not a person. Because it doesn’t “know” what is true or false, its creations should always be double-checked for accuracy.
  • Discuss privacy: remind your child not to share any personal information with these tools, such as their full name, address, or phone number.

 

2. Use the Available Tools

  • Check the age rating: review the product’s official age rating on the app store and its terms of service.
  • Enable parental controls: use your device’s or app store’s parental control features to manage screen time, block in-app purchases, and restrict downloads by age rating. You can learn more about parental controls here.
  • Review app settings: go through the product’s settings with your child. Look for options to limit data collection or activate a “kid-safe” mode.

 

3. Teach Your Child What to Look Out For

  • Encourage critical thinking: Teach your child to question what the AI creates. If a piece of writing has a fact that seems wrong or an image that looks strange, encourage them to ask you or to look it up on a trusted website.
  • Spotting unsafe content: Train your child to recognise key “red flags”. These include:
    • Inappropriate content: the AI creates an image or text that is rude, scary, or inappropriate.
    • Bad Advice: The AI gives advice that sounds dangerous or unhealthy.
    • Private questions: the AI asks for personal information.
    • Making them feel uncomfortable: the AI says or creates something that makes your child feel scared, sad, or uneasy.

What Do I Do if a Problem Occurs?

If your child shows you something a product using generative AI has created that is concerning, or you discover a safety issue yourself, it is crucial to act immediately.

  1. Stop using the product: immediately stop your child from using the specific product or app.
  2. Report the issue: find the “Report”, “Feedback”, or “Help” feature within the app and report the unsafe content. Many companies have a specific process for this.
  3. Talk to your child: reassure your child that they did the right thing by telling you. This reinforces open communication and builds trust.