Empowering Teens to Use AI Safely | A Parents Guide.
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In my recent studies and work, I’ve been writing, learning, and discussing a lot about Machine Learning safety and ethical considerations. Much of this has focused on corporate implementations, economic shifts, and societal impacts. Risk analysis and mitigation planning have been cornerstones of my adult career, but what truly keeps me up at night is the mother in me—replaying utopic and doomsday scenarios and endlessly rewriting strategic approaches to keep my children safe, empowered, and ultimately prepared for a world where AI is part of their daily reality.
Parenting in the AI era feels like walking a tightrope. On one hand, the opportunities are immense: creativity, education, and innovation all within arm’s reach. On the other, the risks—privacy breaches, misinformation, emotional dependency—are just as significant. The question is: How do we guide our children to navigate this technological revolution safely, responsibly, and confidently?
This article aims to provide some guidance or simply starting points to help support an understanding of AI and to empower our kids to use AI wisely without fear, but with healthy curiosity and informed caution.
What is Generative AI and how are kids using it?
Generative AI (GAI) is a type of artificial intelligence that creates content—whether it’s essays, images, code, or even songs. Popular platforms like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot allow users to type a simple prompt and watch as the AI generates a response in seconds. Beyond standalone apps, GAI is also making its way into everyday tools like Snapchat, Instagram, and gaming platforms.
And it’s not just adults getting in on the action, kids use AI for everything from brainstorming creative projects to planning vacations, and yes, even for schoolwork. While these tools are exciting and powerful, they come with risks—both known and unknown. As a parent, and an enthusiast, I feel like it’s my job to strike a balance between encouraging their curiosity and setting boundaries.
The risks of AI—and how to mitigate them
AI isn’t perfect, and it’s important to approach it with both optimism and caution. Here are some of the risks associated with generative AI and a few suggested practical tips to address them:
1. Misinformation and “Hallucinations”
AI sometimes gets things wrong—wildly wrong. Known as “hallucinations,” these errors can sound convincing but may be entirely false.
👉 Tip for Parents: Teach your kids to double-check AI-generated information with trusted sources. Always try and verify information rather than take it verbatim.
2. Privacy and Security Concerns
AI tools collect and process data, and sharing personal details (like your child’s name, school, ID numbers, or address) can be risky.
👉 Tip for Parents: Remind your kids never to share personal information with AI chatbots. Use AI platforms from reputable companies with clear privacy policies, and consider parental controls like Gryphon or Netgear Orbi to monitor their usage.
3. Bias and Discrimination
AI systems are trained on data that can carry biases, which may show up in their responses.
👉 Tip for Parents: Discuss biases with your kids and encourage critical thinking. Help them spot stereotypes or problematic responses, and talk about why AI can sometimes reflect human flaws. The sad reality is, AI was trained on human data, and humans have biases, especially historical texts.
4. Emotional Dependency on AI
Chatbots like ChatGPT can feel like real conversations, which might lead kids to see them as substitutes for real human relationships.
👉 Tip for Parents: Encourage real-world friendships and social interactions. Explain to your kids that while AI can be helpful, it’s not a substitute for genuine emotional connections with people.
5. Deepfakes and Harmful Content
Generative AI can create hyper-realistic but fake videos, images, and audio, sometimes with malicious intent.
👉 Tip for Parents: Educate your kids about deepfakes and how to identify them. Use examples from news stories to explain how fake content can spread and how to verify authenticity. Don’t believe everything you see or hear, deepfakes are only getting more realistic, real world experiences are imperative to stay grounded.
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How parents can support and empower their kids
The goal isn’t to ban AI—it’s to guide our kids toward using it responsibly and creatively.
Here’s how you can help:
1. Foster Critical Thinking
Teach your kids to ask questions:
“Where did this information come from?”
“Does this seem too good to be true?”
“Can I find the same information in another source?”
Critical thinking is a life skill, and AI provides the perfect opportunity to practice.
2. Create safe boundaries
Set clear guidelines for how and when your child can use AI. Examples include:
No sharing personal information with AI chatbots.
Only using reputable tools (ideally with parental supervision or oversight.)
We all know this one but limiting screen time to ensure a healthy balance between tech and offline activities.
3. Learn together
The best way to guide your child is to explore AI with them. Try fun, creative projects like:
Generating art or personal designs for T-Shirts, family christmas cards, their skateboard vinyls
Brainstorming ideas for a family vacation, using AI tools to build presentations
Asking ChatGPT to create silly jokes or poems for family dinner conversations.
This shared experience builds trust and helps you better understand what your child is engaging with and encourages creative play.
A couple of years ago I wrote a blog about playing with MidJourney with my then 5 year old, letting her imagination run wild and the thrill she had at seeing her thoughts come to life: READ HERE
4. Teach about Deepfakes
Show your kids examples of deepfakes (in an age-appropriate way) and explain how they work. Teach them to verify suspicious content and report harmful videos or images. I have gone into this in more detail in another blog if you want to learn a bit more about deepfakes in general: READ HERE
5. Keep communication open
Regularly check in with your kids about their AI usage. Ask them questions like:
“What cool things have you created with AI lately?”
“Have you noticed anything weird or confusing about how AI works?”
“Here are some ways I have been using it today, what do you think?”
“I didn’t know this about it, but I learnt this this morning, did you know that?”
Make these conversations a judgment-free zone, so they feel comfortable sharing their experiences.
6. Remind them of the Power of Perspectives
AI tools in their current form are not accurate, this is so important to remember. I like to think of it as having multiple highly skilled, talented and informed but ultimately flawed people to discuss my thoughts with. Some people just to bounce ideas and thinking off and to get different perspectives.
The future of AI and my role as a parent
AI is a paradigm shift—on par, or wildly surpassing, the invention of the internet. And like the early days of the web, there’s still so much we don’t know. Risks will emerge, but so will opportunities. I feel my role as a parent is to be informed, engaged, and open-minded. By keeping abreast with the potential of AI and attempting to guide our kids thoughtfully, we can help them, if not ‘Navigate this Journey’, but at least feel connected and not alone as we’re all trying to feel our way through.
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Final Thought:
AI is here to stay, reshaping the very foundations of our realities like tectonic plates in motion. Part of my soul dreams of escaping it all—cutting ties with the digital world, piling my family into a boat, and drifting off to a simpler, nomadic life of island-hopping and foraging. But that’s not our reality, and it’s not the world my children are growing up in. So instead, I choose to embrace the shift, be one with the change, and focus on raising a generation that’s not just tech-savvy but ethically grounded, curious, and inspired to use these tools to build something better. 🌟
#AIForKids #ParentingInTheDigitalAge #TechWithPurpose #GenerativeAI #EthicalAI