Youth Safety and AI: Preparing for the AI Revolution
When we create AI policies, our primary focus is often on making artificial intelligence better, safer, and more accessible for the people who use it.
But not everyone interacts with AI the same way. How someone interacts with AI will depend on how much they know about the technology and what they use it for. AI is already shaping how young people learn, communicate, and entertain themselves.
Common Sense Media, a company that aims to build a more healthy, equitable and empowering future for all kids in the digital age, found that 7 out of 10 teens between ages 13 and 18 use at least one type of generative AI tool that takes a question or prompt and provides an instant answer. In fact, most teenagers admit that they use AI to help them with their homework, which has raised a lot of concern from parents and teachers about how they are learning.
In light of all this, we must ask ourselves a crucial question—how are we preparing our youth for a future dominated by AI?
/The Need for AI Education and Awareness
One of the most significant barriers to safe AI usage is the general lack of knowledge about how AI works and how to use it constructively. Right now, AI is widely available, yet few people, especially young users, understand its limitations and potential risks. Without proper education, young users may fall prey to misinformation, harmful interactions, or even mental health issues exacerbated by AI-driven tools.
A tragic example highlights this issue. Last year, a teenager committed suicide after using the popular AI chatbot app, Character AI. The app, designed to simulate human-like conversations with fictional characters, lacked proper safeguards and moderation. Now, the company faces a potential lawsuit from the teenager’s mother, who argues that the absence of safety measures contributed to her child’s death.
This incident underscores the urgent need for better oversight, clearer guidelines, and robust education on AI safety. But is that enough?
We must ask ourselves a crucial question—how are we preparing our youth for a future dominated by AI?
/Ensuring AI Safety for the Average Citizen
When we think about AI safety for everyday users, including kids, I would argue that we must move beyond technical guardrails. While companies can and should install safeguards to prevent harmful outcomes, we also need to empower users with knowledge. For example, how would a teenager recognize that an AI model is providing incorrect information or if they’re being fed a stream of the same type of information?
AI-powered social media algorithms, for instance, can create echo chambers that reinforce negative emotions and unhealthy comparisons. Virtual assistants and chatbots, while useful, can also provide incorrect or harmful advice without users realizing it. This raises an important question: What does safety and protection look like for the average person using AI, especially teenagers who are still developing critical thinking skills?
Education is key to tackling this problem. Teaching young people how AI works, including its strengths and limitations, can help them approach AI tools with a healthy dose of skepticism. Schools, parents, and policymakers should work together to create AI literacy programs that cover:
How AI models are trained: Understanding that AI learns from data and that biased or incomplete data can lead to flawed outputs.
Recognizing AI errors: Encouraging critical thinking when interacting with AI tools and questioning information that doesn’t seem right.
Data privacy and ethics: Discussing what kinds of personal data are collected by AI systems and how young people can protect their privacy.
/Moving Forward: A Call to Action
Preparing the next generation for the AI revolution requires a joint effort from policymakers, educators, parents, tech companies, and young users. Together, we can:
Develop AI literacy programs in schools to ensure that kids and teens understand how to use AI responsibly.
Implement stronger safeguards for AI apps designed for young users, including better content moderation and mental health protections.
Encourage public dialogue about AI policies, ensuring that diverse voices are heard, especially those of young people who will grow up in an AI-driven world.
Promote critical thinking by teaching kids how to question AI outputs and seek reliable information from trusted sources.
AI has the potential to transform how we work, learn, and socialize—but only if we approach it with care and responsibility. By equipping young people with the tools they need to navigate the AI landscape safely, we can help the next generation of users harness AI’s benefits while minimizing its risks.
