Sheltering Kids from AI Abuse: 3 Must-Do Parenting Strategies
No one wants children controlled and damaged by AI. Yet the tug of war between parents and the tech industry just escalated with Google unleashing Gemini on children under the age of 13, the first time a major company is offering an AI chatbot for children. Google admits “Gemini can make mistakes,” and children “may encounter content you don’t want them to see.” So why make it available to our most vulnerable? Promoting Gemini as a homework helper doesn’t cut it, either. Actually, that seems to me like encouraging cheating. Every youngster needs to experience struggling with reasoning processes in order to develop cognitive capacities.
In fact, new research shows that using AI compromises critical thinking, leading to a decline in independent information evaluation and reflective problem-solving skills in adults. And interestingly, the effect was especially pronounced in younger users between the ages of 17 and 25. Since the human brain is not finished developing until age 26, this makes sense. In reality, the younger the person, the more profound the negative effects of any screentime.
Even though parents can control access to Gemini through the Family Link app, I urge parents to think carefully before introducing devices to their children. It’s a minefield out there. Consider the recent reportfrom Culture Reframed, a global organization addressing pornography issues.
The report focuses on the use of AI technologies that inflict suffering on children. For instance, it discusses, the “nudifying” app where the user uploads a photograph of someone clothed, typically a woman or girl, and the program returns the image undressed. The report points out that “these types of applications are increasingly popular among schoolboys to humiliate female peers.”
As AI advances, so do the potential avenues for harm. Use these three strategies, and meaningful questions to reduce your child’s risks.
- Delay. Postponing is not easy, especially with peer pressure. But given the potential negatives, it’s super wise to delay device use until you feel your child is mature enough by your standards. When trying to decide if it is the right time to introduce a new device or permit questionable content consider the following: How will this device/screen content support my child’s optimal development? What are the indicators I will look for to know my child is ready to handle this well? What could I put in place that will work for my child and for me, too? Such as a flip phone instead of a smart phone. How can I convey respect for my child’s wants, when I set the boundary to delay, explaining I am in charge of deciding what he/she/they need?
- Protect. Once given access to the world wide web, we have to be realistic and know we can’t protect them from everything. But we can do our best. On-line controls are essential. Some like Aura monitor dark web access as well. In deciding, you need to take into account the age and responsibility IQ of your child to determine appropriateness.
Important considerations:
What guidelines should we develop as a family for our tech use? What do my friends do for their kids that work well to protect them on-line? Are there on-line safety workshops I can attend to glean more information?
Talk. If you and your child have a trusting relationship with openness and willingness to understand each other, you have already won any battle. Observe what works for you to keep the lines of communication open. My husband and I found that 1:1 time with each of our sons worked very well, even into their later teens. They looked forward to the focused time, usually over a meal. And during those times we learned a lot that otherwise wouldn’t have been expressed with his brother present.
When talking about potentially contentious issues such as screen time or social media activity, it helps to tap into our curiosity and keep our judgmental selves at bay. Don’t allow our kids to become victims of technology. With clarity about what’s best for them, vigilance to stay the course, and dedication to open communication, technology becomes our ally to help them grow optimally.
Gloria DeGaetano, M.Ed., a visionary thought-leader, birthed parent coaching when forming the Parent Coaching Institute, now a global company offering Parent Coach Certification® for family professionals, coaching services for parents, and specialized programs for companies and organizations. Gloria, an acclaimed educator and author, is an innovator of family support for modern-day parents. Her unique system for helping parents successfully navigate the challenges of our tech-obsessed world is used by thousands of parents worldwide.
