Is AI Safe for Kids? What Parents Should Know

Kids are already using AI—through voice assistants, chat companions, filters and more. If you're just catching up, you're not alone. This guide breaks down what you need to know: how AI works, where kids encounter it and what the risks (and benefits) might be.

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AI wasn’t built for kids—and that’s a problem

Most of today’s popular AI tools weren’t designed for children. They’re built for adults, or at best, a general audience. That means things like content filters, safety settings and parental controls may be minimal or missing entirely.

Some AI tools respond in ways that feel friendly or human, even though they aren’t. Kids might not understand that difference, especially if the bot seems kind, helpful or excited to “chat.”

That’s not to say AI is inherently bad. But it is true that most tools on the market weren’t made with kids in mind, and that’s where the risk comes in.

What are the real risks?

When it comes to kids and AI, here are some of the most important things to watch for:

• Inappropriate content: AI generators can produce violent, mature or just plain bizarre results—even when safety filters are turned on. And, AI has exchanged sexually explicit messages with users, even when those users have stated that they’re kids.
• Chat companions: Some AI tools are designed to mimic friends or confidants. While they can feel comforting or fun, kids may overshare or become emotionally attached to something that isn’t real. In one tragic case, a 14-year-old even took his own life after developing a bond with his Character.ai chat companion.
• Data privacy: Many AI platforms save what users type and use that data to train the model. That means something your child says in a chat could later show up in someone else’s conversation. It’s not just stored; it’s potentially shared. And because most of these platforms aren’t built for kids, they often ignore important protections like COPPA, which is supposed to stop companies from collecting and using kids’ data for things like ads, targeting and profiling.
• Misinformation: AI can sound confident while giving completely wrong answers. Lawyers have even been reprimanded after chatbots generated briefs with entirely made-up cases. Because it’s so difficult to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s “hallucinated,” it’s especially tricky for kids still learning to think critically.
• Overtrust: Younger children may treat AI like a teacher or authority figure, assuming it “knows everything.”
• Deepfakes and bullying: AI can be used to alter images, mimic voices or create fake videos, opening the door to impersonation, harassment or social pressure, especially for tweens and teens. In fact, high school girls have been confronting an epidemic of deepfake nudes, and so far, schools and law enforcement are struggling to handle it.
• Cheating on homework: Tools that solve math problems or write essays can make it easy for kids to copy answers instead of learning. This can lead to hidden struggles or academic gaps.
• Emotional confusion: Some bots respond with emojis, praise or friendly encouragement, making it harder for kids to separate real feedback from machine responses. The bots are optimized for engagement, and they tend to be people pleasers. Psychologists and experts are concerned because this can lead AI to give manipulative or harmful advice.

What makes an AI tool safer for kids?

So far, AI tools that are truly built for kids are few and far between. The biggest platforms weren’t designed with children in mind, and that means they often skip the protections families need. One of the biggest red flags? A lack of input moderation. It’s extremely difficult to filter AI outputs, and it’s much easier to filter what kids type in than to try and control what the AI says back. But mainstream tools don’t do this, making them unpredictable and risky for kids.

Here are a few green flags to look for:

• Moderated prompts: Input filtering is key—it's much harder to control what comes out than what goes in.
• Built-in content filters: Tools that catch inappropriate language or unsafe topics before a response is generated.
• Strong privacy policies: Especially ones that commit to not collecting data from children.
• Designed for learning and creativity: The best tools encourage curiosity—not endless chatting.
• Parent-friendly features: Look for platforms that involve caregivers and support guided exploration.

Bonus points if the tool was built specifically for kids, or lives inside a platform you already know and trust.

How parents can stay in the loop

You don’t need to block every AI tool, but you do need to stay curious and involved. Here’s how:

• Test the tool yourself before your child uses it
• Explore it together the first few times and talk through what it’s doing
• Set boundaries, like “no solo use of chat companions” or “AI tools only in shared spaces”
• Ask questions: “How does chatting with AI make you feel?” “Could it be wrong?” “How does it know what to say?”
• Keep checking in: Your child’s understanding (and your comfort level) may shift as they grow

Takeaway: safe-ish tech still needs a grown-up nearby

AI tools aren’t going anywhere, and when used thoughtfully, they can open up creative, playful new opportunities for kids. But most weren’t made for children, and even the best-designed tools need adult oversight.

With a little curiosity, clear boundaries and ongoing conversations, you can help your child explore AI safely and raise a digital citizen who understands both the wonder and the limits of this new technology.

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Image credit: hakule / Getty Images

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