The AI Dilemma: Are Our Children at Risk?
Welcome to the latest edition of our quarterly parenting newsletter 👋 This time we’ll be exploring the often overwhelming world of AI 🤯
Technology is changing at an ever-increasing rate, and it can be a challenge for us to keep up – especially when our homes seem to be filled with a team of tiny (or not so tiny) IT experts.
Just where exactly did they learn how to install apps we’ve never even heard of and become influencers overnight!? 😅
And AI is the next thing to have taken the world by storm.
It’s seemingly become part of our everyday lives, even though it might feel like your children have a better handle on it than you do!
Director, Katharine Hill unpacks some of the dangers AI brings but also what we, as mums, dads and carers, can do about it. Take a look 👇
The AI dilemma: are our children at risk? 🤖
Like all technological advances, the advent of AI has opened the door to incredible opportunities. But those opportunities have come hand in hand with unforeseen challenges.
The last thing we want to do is cause unnecessary concern, but we believe the best way to safeguard our children is to know the issues that are out there so we can tackle them together.
Potential dangers we need to be aware of:
AI-generated deepfakes
Deepfakes involve manipulation of images and audio to create convincing but entirely fake content and disinformation. This can include the creation of fake identities which can be used to threaten or coerce.
AI grooming
Grooming is based upon building a false relationship of trust with the victim and AI enables the interaction to be much more convincing and manipulative.
Complex algorithms can access a child’s online presence, replicating their interests, friendships and patterns of behaviour to allow a much more targeted approach.
Generative AI
This is a sophisticated software which can produce text, images, videos, music and even generate content itself. It can also imitate a human and hold conversations so our children might think they are talking to a real person when they’re not.
What parents can do:
We can help our children as they explore this new territory and encourage media literacy by helping them to:
Develop critical thinking 🧠
We can help our children weigh the reliability of information they come across by getting them to ask questions – is it from a person we can trust? Does it sound like information they already know to be true?
Encourage them to check out other sources, ask questions, be curious and not accept everything they see at face value.
Initiate discussion 💬
Try to start honest and open conversations with your children about their online activities and explain the potential risks around AI generated content. This is probably best done as little and often chats rather than one big lecture!
Check settings ⚙️
Encourage your children to think twice before sharing private information that could be misused. Ensure privacy settings are up to date and passwords are secure.
Trust their instincts 👀
Encourage them to make safe choices with the people they interact with online. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Let them know they can talk to you or someone they trust about anything they see online.
If you’re looking for more practical advice and support to help your children navigate the digital world, then you might be interested in:
Left to Their Own Devices?
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📖 Grab your copy of the 4th edition of Katharine’s popular book.
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🎤 Join Katharine and Sim Dendy at our new live event – find out if we’re coming near you this autumn!
Posted: July 2025