Children's Artificial Intelligence Use is Rapidly Increasing: Warning from UNICEF and Experts

According to reports from UNICEF and research institutions, as children and adolescents rapidly adopt artificial intelligence systems, this situation brings concerns regarding education and development about critical thinking and the replacement of human relationships.

While a generation grows up with instant-responding artificial intelligence systems, UNICEF (2026) warns that children are adopting these technologies more than three times faster than adults. According to estimates, at least 20 million children and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 use artificial intelligence; approximately 13 million of them turn to these tools for learning and schoolwork, and more than two million for personal advice.

The Brookings Institution and PISA 2025 results also underline potential risks, stating that artificial intelligence can support education, but excessive dependence can reduce cognitive effort and critical thinking. Meanwhile, pediatric research by researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia published in the journal Pediatrics highlights developmental risks in early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence, including the danger of artificial intelligence replacing human relationships, friendship, or caregiving roles. Experts recommend adopting a balanced approach focused on ethics, human development, and the protection of minors, rather than outright bans.