“Lawmakers need to support our families” by regulating AI, says digital youth expert
Dr. Katie Davis, co-director of the Center for Digital Youth at the University of Washington: Twenty years of research on the impact of digital technology on kids has led her to advocate for regulation around AI and youth.
May 4, 2026 — As tech companies continue to release untested and addictive chatbots in an unregulated landscape, one child development expert says it’s time for lawmakers to “pass robust legislation that really supports our families.”
Dr. Katie Davis, co-director of the Center for Digital Youth at the University of Washington, appeared on a recent episode of City Inside/Out, a public affairs show based in Seattle, to talk about her research into AI, kids, and digital health.
“I’ve been studying the impact of various technologies, particularly social media, on various aspects of children's and teens' development for over 20 years now,” Davis told Seattle Channel host Brian Callanan.
“We’ve learned a lot from the example of social media and [how government did not regulate] social media—and how difficult that's been on teens and their families. It put all the onus on families to figure out how to regulate social media within the context of the family. I would really like to see us avoid that when it comes to AI.”
Davis appeared as part of a panel discussion on AI regulation that balances innovation with safety, especially when it comes to kids and the digital world. Joining her were State Sen. Lisa Wellman, co-author of Washington’s new chatbot safety law, and tech industry representative Amy Harris of the Washington Industry Technology Association.
‘Disturbing emotional attachments’
“In our research at the Center for Digital Youth,” Davis explained, “we're seeing some pretty disturbing [evidence of] emotional attachments that teens are forming to AI chatbots. In the most extreme cases that’s led to instances of suicide.”
“Teens are forming these emotional attachments at a time of life when they are particularly emotionally vulnerable. We don't know yet what the long-term consequences of that will be, and so I think we really need to step in and regulate how AI is developed.”
Too much for families alone to handle
David noted that “when it comes to figuring out how to introduce kids to different technologies—social media, the internet, cell phones, and now AI—a lot of those decisions fall to individual families.”
“I strongly believe that all of this responsibility should not be foisted solely on individual families,” she added. “These are very complicated situations and challenges we're dealing with. And lawmakers need to pass robust legislation that really supports our families.”
More resources for parents
Watch City Inside/Out: The full AI chatbot episode is available on The Seattle Channel here.
Advocate in your state: State lawmakers are trying to pass AI chatbot safety bills and they need your help. Parents make powerful advocates. Check out TCAI’s AI Legislation Tracker Map to see what’s happening in your state. For the most up-to-date news, see our weekly AI Legislative Update published every Friday morning.
Learn about chatbots and their risks for kids and teens.
WatchThe AI Doc with your family.
