Many parents are eager to understand how artificial intelligence impacts their children’s education and social media experiences. How can we cultivate ‘street smarts’ in a digital world? Rapid changes have occurred in a short time. ChatGPT released its public version of the Large Language Model just two years ago, and since then, thousands of startups have emerged, competing for your attention and that of your children. Our children, being at a vulnerable age, are increasingly susceptible to online influences and are spending more time in front of screens. This situation creates a perfect storm, especially since children have not yet developed critical thinking skills, posing significant risks. Social media companies quickly exploit this by presenting content designed to keep children engaged for extended periods, regardless of the impact on their growth and development.

AI has been a part of our lives for quite some time, often unnoticed. Even using T9 for text prediction on numeric keyboards was a form of AI. Rapid advancements followed, including targeted advertising and social media algorithms that dictate what appears in your Facebook feed or which influencers dominate your Instagram. As parents, how can we navigate this evolving landscape and equip our children with the skills to use these technologies responsibly?

In today’s world, children can easily use AI to draft essays, complete math assignments, and answer science questions, often without engaging with the material. While humans naturally gravitate towards easier paths, these tools can inadvertently encourage complacency. Instead of resisting AI, which is here to stay, we should embrace its potential. Just as calculators have enabled us to tackle more complex math, AI can be a powerful educational tool if used wisely. It’s essential to integrate AI thoughtfully into learning, ensuring it serves as an enhancement rather than a replacement.

Teaching Digital Responsibility and Critical Thinking

1. Encourage Questioning AI-Generated Content
   • Teach your children to ask, “who made this information?” or “why is this being recommended to me”
   • Discuss how AI algorithms work and that not everything online is accurate or trustworthy. Make it fun by “fact-checking” together.
2. Foster Problem solving without AI
   • Encourage kids to try solving problems on their own first before turning to AI or google for help. For example, when they ask questions, try saying, “what do you think the answer might be?” to get the thinking critically.
   • Reward effort and curiosity, not just getting the right answer.
3. Discuss Ethical AI Use
   • Have conversations about fairness and bias in AI, especially in apps they might use. Explain that AI can sometimes make mistakes or treat different groups unfairly, and it’s important to be aware of this.
   • Make it relatable by discussing examples from their world, such as unfair outcomes in games or biases in search results.

If you have younger kids, maybe try the following

Setting Healthy Boundaries Around AI & technology

1. Create Family Rules for Tech use
   • Sit down as a family and establish clear guidelines on when, where, and how technology can be used.
     • Examples:
       • No devices during meals
       • Limit screen time to 1-2 hours a day with specific times for tech use (e.g. after homework)
       • Tech-free zones: Bedrooms, during family time or after a certain time.
2. Implement a weekly tech free day
   • Pick one day each week to go device-free as a family. Use this time for activities like playing board games, going outdoors or reading.
   • the goal is to reinforce the idea that life exists beyond screens, and this helps break reliance on technology.
3. Use Parental controls and monitoring tools
   • Use tools like Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link to monitor and limit what children can access on their devices.
   • Customize settings for age-appropriate content and set app time limits for games or social media
   • Make this a transparent process so your children understand the reasoning behind it.
4. Model Good Digital Behaviour
   • Show your kids how to ta