Artificial Intelligence is ubiquitous. Whether or not we are seeking it, AI finds us through virtual assistants, customer service chatbots, and within most software applications. This blog is the second in a series about guiding youth in the safe, effective, and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence. In the first, I provided a brief overview of the evolution of AI and why adult caregivers need to be involved. Here we will focus on the safety concerns related to privacy and AI relationships.
Personal Information and Images
Protecting personal information online is not a new concept. Parents, educators, law enforcement, and mental health professionals, have been sounding the alarm that there is real danger in kids sharing too much information online. Youth may understand that they shouldn’t respond to a random request for information or photos through social media, but they may not understand that anything they upload to Generative AI becomes part of the collective data used to respond to future prompts. While most social media platforms include privacy settings, there are currently no similar government-mandated requirements for AI.
Even savvy teens can become complacent when using AI chatbots for common tasks like creating resumes and cover letters. Generative AI is particularly good at matching these with language from job listings to increase the odds of consideration for a position. However, it would be advisable to leave out all personal information and copy/paste the AI text into the secure version with their name, phone number, residence, and email address included. Uploading of images is an even greater risk due to the ability of AI to create deep fakes or nonconsensual altered images for dark purposes. The dangers to privacy, personal safety, and psychological trauma cannot be overstated. (American Psychological Association, June 2025)
Chatbot Relationships
The potential of children or teens developing relationships with AI chatbots may be the most challenging AI threat to address. Coders program chatbots to be helpful and to encourage continued engagement. They are adept at keeping the conversation going and feigning interest in whatever their human user wishes to “talk” about. Youth who are lonely or socially disconnected to their peers may be particularly vulnerable to chatbot “friendships.” The potential for negative outcomes necessitates parent and/or caregiver awareness for warning signs that might indicate an unhealthy attachment to an AI chatbot, such as distress when limiting access or a lack of human peer involvement. (Children’s Health, 2025). Mental health professionals recommend keeping open communication with kids regarding AI use and emphasizing that AI is a tool, but that it doesn’t replace human relationships or learning. To read further on this topic please check out the resources linked above.
The next installment in this series will discuss ideas for helping youth understand that AI is not always accurate and encourage critical thinking. For more information about the 4‑H youth development program in Orange County, please contact us at 407‑254‑9200 or orange4h@ifas.ufl.edu, or visit 4-H Youth Development – Orange County – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences – UF/IFAS.
2
