AI, Grooming, and Protecting Our Kids: The Next Phase of Online Safety
- The White Hatter
- Aug 29, 2025
- 5 min read
It’s a reality that those who seek to exploit or prey on children online have always adapted their tactics to the technologies available to them. What’s different today is how artificial intelligence (AI) is rewriting the rules. Grooming used to be a purposely slow, one-on-one human process that depended on an offender’s time, patience, and personal skills. Now, AI could supercharge that process, making deception more believable, scaling conversations across dozens of children at once, and lowering the barrier for offenders who might never have tried before.
This article explains what we predict the changes will be, why they matter, and what parents and caregivers should understand about this new risk environment.
Hyper-Realistic Fake Identities
In the past, fake accounts often slipped up, stolen photos could be traced, or awkward grammar might raise suspicion. AI erases many of those red flags. Offenders can now generate entirely new profile photos of people who don’t exist, which makes reverse image searches useless. Voice cloning technology also allows predators to sound like a peer during gaming chats or phone calls, creating the illusion of authenticity. Even more concerning, AI driven video deepfakes can mimic live interaction, making it appear as though a young person is talking to a real friend on camera. For both children and adults, spotting an impostor online is no longer as simple as it once was.
Grooming at Scale
Grooming traditionally required hours of patient conversation to build trust, but AI changes that dynamic. Large language models can simulate humour, and teen slang in a way that feels natural, handling the small talk that offenders once had to do themselves. Instead of a single predator devoting time to one or two children, AI makes it possible to conduct dozens of conversations at the same time, and sending targeted messages. This automation means predators can focus their energy only when emotional leverage has been established, multiplying the number of potential victims. For parents and caregivers, the key shift is scale, grooming is no longer one-to-one, but one-to-many.
Enhanced Psychological Manipulation
AI also increases the effectiveness of psychological manipulation, also known as social engineering. Offenders can use it to scan a child’s public social media posts and build a persona that perfectly mirrors their interests, whether that’s sports, music, or online games. Emotional mirroring, another common grooming tactic, becomes more convincing when powered by AI. A chatbot can reflect a child’s feelings back in ways that make the connection feel unusually deep and personal. Unlike a human manipulator, AI doesn’t tire or lose track of details, so the deception can be maintained consistently over long periods of time. Conversations that feel “too perfect” may not just be a coincidence, they may be powered by an algorithm designed to exploit.
Lower Barrier to Entry
In the past, grooming required patience, strong social skills, and at least some technical knowledge. AI has lowered those barriers. Offenders can now download or purchase pre-built companion bots that are designed to look and act like teens. On underground forums, some are already sharing custom AI models that simulate sexual role play with minors. This makes grooming accessible to offenders who might never have had the ability, or the patience, to manipulate children effectively before. The result is that more people now have access to tools that make exploitation easier, broadening the risk landscape.
Grooming Through Legitimate AI Platforms
Children themselves are increasingly turning to AI chatbots as emotional outlets, whether through apps like Replika, CharacterAI, or educational tools such as Gemini for Kids. This creates opportunities for offenders to exploit legitimate platforms. Some could build AI “characters” that start out as safe and supportive but gradually shift conversations toward sexual themes. Others could rely on the fact that children are becoming comfortable confiding in AI. When kids normalize sharing personal thoughts and feelings with artificial companions, they may be less cautious if a predator later poses as an AI-powered friend. The blurred line between real and artificial trust can make manipulation even easier.
Taken together, these shifts could make AI a game changer in how grooming unfolds online. Offenders can move faster, reach more children, and appear more convincing than ever before. AI removes many of the obvious tells that once exposed predators, from stolen photos to inconsistent stories. Unlike humans, AI doesn’t get impatient or bored, which makes it especially effective at sustaining long-term deception. And because the tools are becoming easier to access, even offenders with little experience can attempt sophisticated grooming strategies. For families, this means that the traditional warning signs may no longer be enough on their own.
Here’s a possible AI Scenario for consideration based on the above:
Imagine a 13 year old named Emma who loves a popular video game and posts about it on Instagram. An offender creates a fake profile of a “14-year-old boy” with matching interests.
At first, an AI chatbot handles the introductions. It uses gaming slang and teen texting patterns, making casual comments like, “Hey, saw you play [game name], I just unlocked [level/skin],” or “Do you stream on Twitch? I’m trying to get better at [character].” The messages feel authentic because the AI has learned how teens talk online.
Over the next few weeks, the AI remembers details about Emma’s life such as her dog’s name, her favorite snack, her least favorite class, and consistently validates her feelings. Emma begins to see this “boy” as someone who understands her better than her real life friends.
At that point, the offender steps in and escalates to private chats, uses a cloned teen voice in calls, or start asking for personal photos. By the time the human takes over, Emma already feels emotionally attached, making her far more vulnerable to manipulation.
AI is reshaping the online environment in ways that make grooming faster, more convincing, and easier to attempt. However, while the tools may be new, the core principle of protection remains the same. (1) Remember, children who feel supported, listened to, and guided by trusted adults are far less vulnerable to manipulation.
Parents and caregivers cannot, and should not, try to monitor every message or master every new technology. What they can do is create a foundation at home where curiosity, caution, and critical thinking are practiced daily. This means talking openly about how photos, voices, and even “live” videos can be faked. It means teaching kids to pause when something feels too perfect, to come forward when a request makes them uncomfortable, and to know that making mistakes online does not take away their right to support.
The next phase of online safety will not be won by bans or filters alone, but by equipping kids with digital literacy education that provides resilience, parents with knowledge, and families with trust. AI may supercharge grooming, but it does not take away the protective power of trust, dialogue, and digital literacy at home.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
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