Today’s Youth Are the First Generation Growing Up With AI: The Canary In The AI Coal Mine
- The White Hatter
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Although most artificial intelligence (AI) systems are developed with adult users in mind, the reality is that youth and teens are often the first to engage with them. Whether through chatbots, image generators, algorithms, or tools embedded in education platforms, today’s young people are encountering AI earlier, and more often, than previous generations. Some of the major AI tech providers are aware of this shift, and to be frank, just don’t care, and some are rapidly embedding AI in apps and platforms youth already in use with no “protective” scaffolding built into their products. This is why, once again, youth and teens have unwillingly become the canary in the digital coal mine, specific to how AI can be a positive or negative influence in their emotional, psychological, physical, and social development.
This reality presents both strong opportunities and significant risks to youth and teens that parents, caregivers, and educators should be aware of. Some of the opportunities:
Personalized Learning
AI offers the potential to tailor educational content to each child’s pace, interests, and learning style. For instance, research from Harvard Graduate School of Education shows that children can learn effectively from AI-based interactions when the AI is designed with sound learning principles in mind. (1) A systematic review of AI in education found that personalization is one of the key themes in the literature. (2) This means that a youth might receive helping questions, adaptive feedback, or scaffolded instruction just at the moment they need it.
Enhancing Creativity and Expression
AI tools are increasingly used for creative purposes such as story-writing, image generation, music composition, coding, and game design. For youth and teens who may not have access to high end art or programming tools, AI can act as a partner or amplifier of ideas. A recent article noted how AI powered modelling allows avatars or interactive systems to engage children in natural conversations, supporting creative and developmental processes. (3) When used thoughtfully, this opens new pathways for expression and exploration.
Accessibility and Inclusion
AI tools can help overcome learning barriers with things like speech-to-text, automatic translation, adaptive tutoring for students with learning differences and other emerging possibilities. Given that youth and teens are already digitally immersed, they may engage with and benefit from these supports earlier. An example, AI embedded in classrooms is already providing teachers and students with insights and feedback tools. (4)
However, there are are also challenges that parents, caregivers, and educators should be aware of such as:
Cognitive and Emotional Maturity Gaps
While AI can mimic aspects of human interaction, it lacks full human empathy, context awareness, and moral judgment. According to some research by Harvard, children may learn from AI but AI “cannot fully replicate the deeper engagement and relationship-building that come from human interaction.” (5)
Youth and teens are still developing their critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and understanding of relationships. When AI becomes part of their social or learning ecosystem, there is a risk they may misinterpret what the AI is doing or expect more than the system is designed to provide.
Influence and Shaping Behaviour
We have empirically found that youth and teens encounter AI through social media, chatbots or games, where there is a dual role of AI as both tool and influencer. The Oxford Internet Institute warns that without a structured framework for studying AI’s effect on mental health, policy will lag behind technology. (6) Youth and teens immersion in algorithmic feeds, personalized content, and conversational AI may affect how they learn to think, socialize and make decisions.
Data Privacy, Profiling and Algorithmic Bias
Every interaction with AI generates data. Youth interactions such as questions asked, responses given, and preferences displayed, can be logged and used for profiling or targeted content. The U.S. Department of Education’s report on AI includes principles such as transparency, privacy protection, and human oversight as essential when students are involved. (7)
Given many AI systems are designed primarily for adults or general audiences, they may not anticipate children’s vulnerabilities to bias, surveillance, or content manipulation. We would argue that some do, but purposely remain wilfully blind to this fact.
A survey by UNICEF Office of Research reported that generative AI tools are already widespread among children, sometimes hidden from parental or teacher oversight (8), and these companies are not blind to this fact.
This highlights issues such as youth using AI in ways not intended by designers, such as misuse for academic cheating, emotional dependency, or exposure to content they are not ready to evaluate. For example, research from Illinois found teenagers using generative AI chatbots as therapy assistants, confidants, or even romantic partners, raising questions about emotional development and supervision. (9)
So what can parents, caregivers, and educators do?
Try The Tools Yourself
The best way to guide your child’s use of AI is to understand it firsthand. Spend time exploring ChatGPT, Sora, or image generators yourself before setting rules. Ask the same kinds of questions your child might ask. Try both creative and practical uses such as homework help, storytelling, or learning a new topic. Experience the boundaries and quirks so you can give informed advice instead of vague warnings. Here are just a couple of links for your investigation: OpenAI (10) Sora2 (11), MetaVibes (12), MetaAI (13), Google Gemini (14), Anthopric Claud (15)
Co-Engage Rather Than Only Restrict
Talk with your child about the AI tools they are using. Explore together and ask what the tool does, how it gives answers, what happens when it’s wrong. When you show interest, you build trust and help develop digital literacy. For instance, using AI as a supplement to learning, not a replacement, and emphasizing to youth and teens to wrestle with problems before seeking AI help.
Encourage your child to explore AI in open, shared environments like the family room, not behind a closed bedroom door. This helps normalize transparency and creates natural opportunities for questions, guidance, and shared learning. It’s not about spying, but about shaping healthy habits while the technology is still new to them.
Teach The Limits of AI and Build Critical Thinking
Explain that AI can sound smart, but it doesn’t “understand” in the human sense and can make errors. Encourage questions such as, “How did it know that?” and “Could it be wrong?” Some youth and teens many hold misconceptions about what AI is and how it works (for example, thinking of AI as a human-like entity). Supporting this kind of reflection strengthens digital awareness.
Set Boundaries and Monitor Together
Check what permissions and data the AI tools your child uses are requesting. Encourage use of educational platforms with transparent safeguards and privacy policies such as Kahnmigo. (16) Define times when AI use is appropriate (homework help, creative exploration) and times when it’s better to put tech aside (socializing in person, face-to-face activities).
Use Parental Controls If Offered, But Don’t Mistake Them For A Plan
Filters and controls are helpful tools, but they are not a substitute for parenting or education. Think of them as training wheels, not a safety net. They can limit certain types of access, but they can’t teach critical thinking, values, or discernment. Pair them with regular conversations about what your child is seeing and learning online, and revisit those controls as they mature and earn more autonomy
Maintain an open dialogue is always important when it comes to your child’s onlife world. Ask your teen what AI tools their friends are using or what they might use next. Share your concerns, listen to theirs, and adapt your parenting as the landscape shifts.
Youth and teens are growing up with AI as a normal part of their onlife environment. While this carries important benefits such as personalized learning, creative expression, and accessibility, it also brings risks that families need to understand and manage. As a parents, caregivers, and educators you don’t have to become an AI expert. You simply need to stay curious, informed, and actively involved. With guidance, your child can develop both technological fluency and the ethical, critical mind-set needed for this new AI era that is here and now!
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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