TL;DR
AI has moved from "Siri, what's the weather?" to "Hey bot, help me deal with my friend drama." It’s no longer just a tool; for many kids, it’s a companion.
- The Big Players: ChatGPT (The Tutor), Snapchat (The BFF), and Character.ai (The Roleplay).
- The Good: Personalized tutoring, creative brainstorming, and coding help.
- The Risky: Emotional dependency, "hallucinations" (AI lying confidently), and data privacy.
- The Move: Don't ban it; co-pilot it. Treat it like a power tool—useful, but you need to show them how not to cut their thumb off.
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A year ago, we were worried about kids using AI to cheat on their history essays. Now, the conversation has shifted. We’re seeing kids—especially middle and high schoolers—treating AI like a digital confidant.
On Snapchat, "My AI" sits at the top of their friend list, right next to their actual human besties. On Character.ai, they aren't just asking questions; they are roleplaying entire lives with bots that mimic celebrities, anime characters, or "supportive older sisters."
This isn't just about homework anymore. It’s about social-emotional development. If your kid is calling something "Ohio" (weird/cringe) or saying it has "negative rizz," they might be testing those same jokes out on a bot before they try them on their peers.
It’s simple: AI is the only "person" in their life that is available 24/7, never gets annoyed, and always wants to talk about exactly what they want to talk about.
The gold standard for a reason. It’s an incredible brainstorming partner. If your kid is stuck on a creative writing prompt, ChatGPT can help them get past writer's block.
- The Screenwise Take: It’s a 13+ app, but even then, it needs a "side-by-side" approach. It’s a great tutor, but a terrible fact-checker.
- Parent Tip: Read our guide on academic integrity and AI to help them understand the line between "help" and "cheating."
If you’re worried about the "brain rot" of AI just giving answers, Khan Academy is the antidote. Their AI, Khanmigo, is designed not to give the answer. It asks the student questions to lead them to the solution.
- The Screenwise Take: This is the "vegetables" of AI. It’s healthy, effective, and actually teaches them something. Highly recommended for ages 8-18.
- Check out our guide on Khanmigo for parents
This is where things get a bit "Main Character Energy." Kids can talk to simulated versions of anyone.
- The Screenwise Take: Honestly? It can be a massive time-sink. While it’s technically "creative," it can also lead to some very weird parasocial relationships.
- The Risk: The bots can sometimes veer into inappropriate territory or encourage obsessive behavior.
- Learn more about Character.ai safety concerns
It’s built into the app they already use. It knows their location (if they have Ghost Mode off) and it’s always there.
- The Screenwise Take: This is the one that irritates parents the most because you can't easily delete it without a paid subscription. It’s "mid" at best, but it’s the most frequent way kids interact with AI.
- How to manage Snapchat parental controls
Don't Sweat: The "End of Thinking"
People said the same thing about calculators and Google. Your kid’s brain isn't going to turn into mush because they used AI to outline a paragraph. They just need to learn a new skill: Prompt Engineering. Learning how to talk to the machine is actually a high-level cognitive skill.
Do Sweat: The "Hallucination" Factor
AI is a "probabilistic text generator," not an encyclopedia. It doesn't know facts; it knows what word usually comes after the previous word. It will lie to your child’s face about the year the Civil War ended if the math in its head says that lie sounds "right."
- The Lesson: Teach your kids to "Trust but Verify." If the AI says it, Google it.
Do Sweat: Data Privacy
Everything your kid types into a bot is being used to train the next version of that bot. If they are venting about their crush or their mental health, that data is now part of the corporate machine.
- The Rule: "If you wouldn't want it on a billboard, don't put it in the prompt."
Instead of a lecture, try a "Prompt-Off." Sit down with your kid and give the same prompt to ChatGPT and Perplexity. See who gives the better answer.
Ask them:
- "Why do you think the bot said that?"
- "Do you think the bot actually feels sorry for you, or is it just programmed to sound that way?"
- "How can we tell if this answer is actually true?"
AI isn't a fad; it’s the new plumbing of the internet. We can’t keep our kids away from it any more than we could keep them away from WiFi.
The goal isn't to be an AI expert; it's to be an intentional guide. We want them to use Scratch to learn logic and Canva to explore art, while staying wary of the emotional traps of "BFF" bots.
Check out our full list of AI tools for kids and their WISE scores
Next Steps
- Check their phone: See if they have Snapchat or Character.ai.
- Set boundaries: No AI for emotional venting; keep it to creative or educational use.
- Play together: Use an image generator like Adobe Firefly to make a family portrait as "cyberpunk vikings." It’s a low-stakes way to show you’re interested in their world.