AI and Parenting: Navigating the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Your Child's Life

Navigating Online Safety: The role of AI 

By Sacha Lazimi, co-founder and CEO of Yubo 

In today's digital age, children and teenagers are navigating an increasingly complex online landscape. For parents, ensuring their child's safety online can be a daunting task. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) – the newest technological revolution – may be a key to mitigating online safety risks, particularly among young users. 

Eye-catching headlines have recently portrayed AI as an uncontrollable and detrimental force, but this view is exaggerated and lacks nuance. AI is a tool, controlled by humans, and advancements in AI have in fact opened up new avenues for protecting young people from potential online harms. 

Younger generations are already seeing AI being integrated in their everyday lives, and likely will never know a world without it. One recent study found that almost half of Gen Z had used ChatGPT, an AI-based tool, for help with their homework. 

With this in mind, here I discuss the key AI-powered tools and technologies that parents should be aware of, and argue that they can indeed be used for good – playing a pivotal role in fostering a safer online environment for young people. 

Responding to the complex issue of online safeguarding 

Online safeguards are essential to protect children and vulnerable individuals from various forms of harm. They provide an environment where young people can explore, learn, and connect without being exposed to age-inappropriate content or  illicit behaviours by so-called bad actors. 

For example, age verification technologies are being used by many social media companies today, ensuring users can only access age-appropriate content, while AI-powered content moderation is another technique becoming more commonplace. Safeguarding measures such as these help to build a safe space online, contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate online community. For parents, it’s also worth being aware of the incoming Online Safety Bill, a piece of influential legislation expected to take effect across the United Kingdom in Autumn 2023. The Bill was introduced to cement the UK’s commitment to protecting the safety of young people online. 

While the Bill establishes a basic framework for online protections, there are steps that online platforms can and should be taking now to protect their users and reassure parents. 

Forms of AI-powered safeguarding: age verification

AI-powered age verification uses artificial intelligence to verify the age of people accessing online platforms, websites, or services. It aims to ensure that age-restricted content or activities are only accessible to individuals who meet the required age criteria. 

This software typically uses a combination of techniques, such as data analysis, pattern recognition, and sometimes even facial recognition, to determine the user's age. Although used to verify and establish a profile, this data is encrypted and also subject to strict controls – platforms are not able to share this data in a way which could compromise the identity of individuals. 

It's important for parents to know that while AI-powered age verification can be an effective way to protect young people online, it is not infallible. So it’s crucial to complement the technology with other measures such as parental supervision, digital literacy education, and open communication between parents and children to ensure comprehensive online safety.

Forms of AI-powered safeguarding: content moderation

AI-powered content moderation is another solution that should be on parents’ radar. 

Most major social media platforms in the world today, including Yubo, rely on AI, machine learning and natural language processing technology to complement the work of human moderators and hold users accountable for their actions. AI analyses and filters user-generated content with the primary goal of identifying and removing inappropriate content to mitigate online safety risks and enhance the user experience.

Generally speaking, the AI software automatically reviews and classifies content based on predefined criteria, such as explicit material, hate speech, cyberbullying, or other forms of harmful content. By swiftly detecting such content, the software reduces the chance of young people being exposed to harmful or age-inappropriate content.

Putting pressure on online platforms to lead the way 

When designing a platform for young people, simply implementing AI software can only go so far in keeping them safe. Parents can look out for how platforms collaborate, conform, educate, and improve, to get an idea of the company’s approach to online safety.   

Collaborate: Often, platforms will establish collaborations and partnerships with child safety organisations and experts in the field, such as a Safety Board. This approach allows companies to benefit from collective expertise and stay up to date on the latest advancements in tech. 

Data privacy: When implementing safety systems, data privacy and ethical practices should be at the forefront of a platform’s approach – and this should be clear to users in the guidelines and ethos of the company. Companies must develop clear policies which protect user data, and build algorithms that are transparent, unbiased, and conform to legal and ethical standards. 

Digital literacy: Platforms often provide resources, guidelines, and tools to educate parents and young people about the importance of responsible online behaviour.

Continuous innovation: Like any other technology, AI must be continuously updated and improved. Platforms must engage in ongoing research and development to adapt to emerging threats and evolving online behaviour, ensuring that systems remain effective. 

Navigating the AI Future

AI-powered tools and technologies can offer promising solutions for protecting young people from online threats; however, their effectiveness relies on responsible implementation and complementary measures. 

Given that young people will never know a world without AI, it is essential for parents to look out for how online platforms prioritise the safety and privacy of their users, promote informed digital literacy and innovative solutions, and strive to create a safer online environment. 

Staying informed of the different forms of AI-powered safeguarding measures – especially the age verification and content moderation software explored here – presents a vital opportunity for parents to actively engage with their children's experiences and help them navigate the challenges presented by AI technology. 

These elements enable us all to, with a clearer understanding, seize opportunities and work together to ensure the online safety and well-being of future generations.