A new survey reveals that most children aged 9 to 17 are already frequent users of artificial intelligence, but many lack guidance on its safe and ethical use. Experts advocate for timely conversations to foster responsible AI engagement among young learners.
Parents of tweens are being urged to start talking about artificial intelligence now, as new survey data suggests many children are already using it regularly while adults lag behind on safety conversations. Common Sense Media found that 86% of children aged 9 to 17 use AI, with nearly a quarter doing so every day, yet more than 40% say no parent or guardian has ever discussed AI safety with them. Among younger children in the 9-to-12 age group, almost 47% say they have never had that talk.
The scale of use helps explain why experts say the middle-school years are a useful moment to begin. Common Sense Media’s findings show AI is already woven into schoolwork, creative projects and everyday entertainment, while other reporting on the same survey found that many children also turn to AI for homework and information about their health or bodies. Jennifer Katzenstein, co-director of the Centre for Behavioural Health at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, said the preteen years are a good time to reinforce that AI can be wrong, does not think like a person and should be treated as a tool rather than a companion.
Specialists also say parents should talk plainly about accuracy, plagiarism and credit. That means asking where an AI response came from, whether a citation is real and whether schoolwork is still truly the child’s own. Dr Jenny Radesky of the University of Michigan said children at this age are beginning to think more abstractly about fairness and ethics, which makes it a good stage for conversations about whether AI is helping or doing the thinking for them.
Privacy is another major concern. Experts warn that children may not understand how long digital content can persist or how data shared with chatbots may be retained. Jason Yip of the University of Washington said children should be helped to see that anything they share online can outlast the moment, while Radesky said parents should also be alert to AI systems that may drift into sexual or violent content. She and other experts recommend parental controls, but say monitoring should be open and explained, not hidden.
For parents who feel behind, the advice is to stay calm, stay curious and keep the conversation going. Experts suggest asking what AI policies a child’s school uses, discussing news stories about the technology and, if necessary, learning alongside children. That shared approach matters, clinicians say, because the point is not to ban AI outright, but to help children build the judgement to use it safely and critically.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
