How artificial intelligence technology becomes part of everyday life, Adolescents turn around Chatbots about advice, management and conversation. The appeal is clear: Chatbots are patient, never judge, supportive and always available.
The fact that experts in charge of claiming that the flourishing industry AI is largely unregulated and that many parents have no idea how their children use AI tools or the extent of personal data that share with chatbots.
New research It shows more than 70% of American teenagers that regularly used AI companions and more than half conversations. The study Media Common Sense Media focused on “AI companions”, such as character. AI, Nomi and a replica that defines as “digital friends or characters you can talk to or talk to, whenever you want,” versus AI assistants or tools like chatgpt, even though he notes that can be used in the same way.
It is important that parents understand technology. Experts suggest that some things that parents can do to help protect their children:
– Start a conversation without judgment, says Michael Robb, Media Common Sense Media. Approach your teenage with curiosity and basic questions: “Have you heard of AI -shares?” “Do you use apps that talk to you as a friend?” Listen and understand what is referring to your teenagers before you worry about being concerned.
– Help adolescents to tell that AI companions are programmed to be pleasant and verified. Explain that this is not how real relationships work and that real friends with their own aspects can help navigate difficult situations in a way that AI companions cannot.
“One of the things that really concern is not only what is happening on the screen, but also how much time it makes children away from real life relationships,” says Mitch Prinstein, head of psychology in the American Psychological Association. “We must teach children that this is a form of entertainment. It is not real and it is really important to distinguish them from reality and should not replace it with relationships in your real life.”
APA recently released and Health counseling on AI and teenage well -being and Tips for Parents.
– Parents should follow signs of unhealthy attachments.
“If your adolescents prefer AI interactions over real relationships or digestive hours of interviewing AI companions, or shows that they become emotionally desperate when separating them – these are patterns that suggest that AI companions can replace human connections rather than adding human connections,” Robb says.
– Parents can set rules on the use of AI as well as for screen and social media. Discuss when and how they can and cannot and cannot be used by AI tools. Many AI companions are designed for the use of adults and can imitate romantic, intimate scenarios of playing roles.
While AI companions may feel supportive, children should understand that the tools are not equipped to solve the real crisis or provide true mental health support. If children fight depression, anxiety, loneliness, eating disorder or other mental health challenges, they need human support – whether it is family, friends or mental health expert.
– Inform yourself. The more parents know about AI, the better. “I don’t think people will quite get what AI, how many teenagers use it and why it is getting a little scary,” says Printein, one of many experts who require regulations to ensure security railing for children. “Many of us throw our hands up and say,” I don’t know what it is! “That sounds crazy!” Unfortunately, it tells children, if you have a problem with it, don’t come to me, because I reduce it and limit it. ”
Older teenagers also have advice for parents and children. The AI tool is not a solution because technology becomes ubiquitous, says Ganesh Nair, 18.
“Trying not to use AI is like trying not to use social media today. It is too rooted in everything we do,” says Nair, who is trying to retreat from the use of AI companions after he saw them affects real life in his high school. “The best way to try to regulate is to accept the challenge.”
“Anything that is difficult, AI can make it easier. But that’s a problem,” says Nair. “He is actively looking for challenges, whether academic or personal. If you fall to the idea of being easier, you are the most vulnerable to absorbing into this new artificial world.”
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(Tagstotranslate) companions AI
