Lessons Learned from Social Media Addiction Guide AI Safety

The belated struggle against the negative impacts of social media platforms on children offers important lessons on the need to take early precautions regarding the safety of new-generation artificial intelligence technologies.

Lessons from the Past

Long-standing campaigns to protect children on social media offer some important lessons for those wanting to protect children using artificial intelligence.

Years after the risks posed by social media for children first emerged, U.S. states reached a major consensus on child safety this summer.

Artificial Intelligence and Teen Accounts

While efforts to make social media safer continue, this process can guide those wishing to protect children against emerging artificial intelligence.

Nearly four years after launching ChatGPT, OpenAI introduced teen accounts featuring restrictions such as the banning of romantic conversations.

Meta, meanwhile, took similar safety steps by introducing teen accounts on the Instagram platform in 2024.

The Scale of Risks and Differences

Experts state that artificial intelligence and social media harbor different risks, but some solution methods overlap with each other.

While concerns in social media focus on the time spent on platforms, the impacts of artificial intelligence can be much more widespread and profound for children.

Teen Artificial Intelligence Usage

According to Pew Research Center data, 64 percent of U.S. teens state that they use various artificial intelligence chatbots.

Teens mostly prefer this technology for the purposes of searching for information, getting help with school homework, having fun, and summarizing texts.

Approach of Legislative Bodies

Congress and state-level legislative bodies are carrying out efforts to resolve safety issues regarding artificial intelligence on children.

Issues such as youth privacy, chatbot interactions, and toy safety are being addressed as priorities.