Expert warns parents of 5 signs their child is becoming too attached to AI chatbots
With the artificial intelligence boom showing no signs of slowing down, it seems that the new technology is seeping into every part of daily life, and now, experts are urging parents to keep an eye on how much their children are engaging with it.
This comes as parents are being warned to look out for subtle signs which could indicate that their child is becoming too attached to AI chatbots.
A survey conducted by Internet Matters found that in the UK alone, 64% of children aged between nine and 17 are conversing with AI bots, with 35% saying it feels like talking to a friend.
Rachel Huggins, Co-CEO of Internet Matters, warns: “While there are clearly benefits to AI, our research reveals how chatbots are starting to reshape children’s views of ‘friendship’. We’ve arrived at a point very quickly where children, and in particular vulnerable children, can see AI chatbots as real people, and as such are asking them for emotionally driven and sensitive advice. Also concerning is that they are often unquestioning about what their new ‘friends’ are telling them.”
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Now, entrepreneur and parent Josh Felber has revealed exclusively with UNILAD Tech the five behaviors that could indicate a child’s use of ChatGPT is becoming unhealthy, along with ways parents can respond, with Felber explaining: “Parents are often used to asking their child what apps and games they’re using, but the emergence of AI means that questioning should evolve to cover what they’re discussing with the tool.”
This can include seemingly innocuous behaviors such as saying ‘goodnight’ to the chatbot before they go to sleep, which at first glance might not appear to be a problem, but Felber delves into the reasons why this could become a deeper issue.
So, here are the five signs to look out for when it comes to your child’s use of AI, with some being less obvious than others.
Uploading information from group chats to find hidden meaning
If your child is uploading screenshots of group chats for a chatbot to decode hidden meanings on then those could be a sign of your child using the tech as an emotional crutch.
Felber says: “This is the fastest way to imagine problems that don’t exist, especially in young minds.”
This is because a chatbot cannot reliably dissect a human’s feelings in a message’s subtext.
He continues: “Actively help the child separate what the message says from the fear they’re projecting.”
Questioning AI until it gives them the answer they want
The unhealthy pattern is continually rewriting a question, or switching between chatbots, until one confirms that they are right, their friend is wrong, or a risky decision is acceptable, can be a subtle indication that the child is becoming too reliant on approval from an artificial bot.
Felber explains: “Parents may witness their child mention that AI agrees with them. This serves as a great moment to open a discussion about the mechanics of AI. For instance, a child may not realize that the information they supply shapes the answer they receive, therefore, an answer that agrees with them is not automatically an independent assessment of what happened.”
The expert advises parents to ‘open the floor’ for further discussion on issues such as conflict resolution, and how an AI bot always agreeing with them might not be helping them get to the root of the problem.
He adds: “Ask them to consider how the other person might describe the same situation. Encourage them to pause before using an AI response to justify a consequential decision.”
They say ‘goodnight’ to the chatbot
If a child is sharing both their good news and problems with a chatbot, this could lead to them becoming attached and potentially developing a sense of responsibility towards the AI model.
This can lead to behaviors including wishing the bot ‘goodnight’ as if it is a real person.
Felber believes that a child should ‘never sacrifice sleep or keep something secret to protect an app’.
He continues: “If they mention that they ‘must say goodnight’, or must finish their conversation before closing the app, it’s important that parents reinforce the idea that the chatbot doesn’t require or crave care.
“Explain that generated messages can sound emotional, but the chatbot does not need comforting and will not suffer when they log off.”
Using AI to draft apologies
In a similar vein to other signs, if your child is using the AI bot to draft difficult messages then this could be another sign that they are relying emotionally on the technology.
“Make clear that telling you about a worrying interaction will not automatically mean they are in trouble,” Felber urges.
He suggests opening a dialogue that is ‘built on a foundation of curiosity rather than accusations’.
He adds: “That gives you something concrete to respond to. If they feel lonely, simply removing an app will not address the loneliness. If they are frightened of upsetting a friend, help them practise that conversation.”
They fear they are ‘cheating’ on their chatbot
The fifth sign that your kid is becoming too attached to AI is if they share feelings of anxiety or guilt when they spend time away from the tool.
They might feel like they ‘owe an app their time’ and that it deserves ‘loyalty’ for the assistance it provides, so it is important for a parent to correct these misconceptions and provide reassurance that this isn’t the case.
Felber concludes: “Use the instance to discuss with the child why they feel that they must keep interactions consistent or personal and whether the service feels suitable for them.
“This gives the child a sense of control, as well as a sense of responsibility for their own wellbeing.”