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TikTok’s “depraved” test used kids as guinea pigs. One of them died.
An internal report obtained by Bloomberg revealed that TikTok used millions of its users as unwitting test subjects. One of those users, who was fed a constant stream of videos about suicide, depression, and self-harm, took his own life. He was 16.
TCAI Guide to ‘ChatGPT For Teens’: The good, the bad, and the law
OpenAI produced a splashy rollout of ‘ChatGPT For Teens’ yesterday, a product intended for kids age 13 to 17. The new chatbot includes a number of features required by recently enacted state chatbot safety laws. We have a complete guide.
Why do kids use AI chatbots for emotional support? This Stanford researcher asked them.
About one in five young people use AI chatbots for emotional support and mental health advice. Stanford researcher Caroline Figueroa asked them why.
These high school students drafted new rules for AI use in school. They’re pretty darn good.
A group of high school students gathered in Boston recently to create a one-of-a-kind document: A Congressional bill to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in school classrooms. What they came up with is remarkable.
Massachusetts bills aim to protect kids from addictive feeds and enact bell-to-bell policy
Massachusetts lawmakers are moving two bills concerning kids, addictive algorithms, and the use of digital devices at school.
The summer AI safety check every parent should do right now
With schools letting out across the country, this is a good time for parents to check up on their kids’ digital safety. Here’s a five-step plan to set your family up for a happy and healthy summer.
New York lawmakers embrace bill to ban AI chatbots in toys; California considering it too
Alarmed by the release of untested and developmentally harmful chatbot toys, legislators in New York and California have proposed a five-year moratorium on their manufacture and sale.
Girl Scouts survey finds 51% of girls ages 11 to 13 have used AI for emotional support
A survey of 1,000 girls ages 5-13 found that 65% viewed AI as a friend, while 51% of girls ages 11-13 have asked AI for help when they felt sad, anxious or lonely.
“Lawmakers need to support our families” by regulating AI, says digital youth expert
Twenty years of research on the impact of digital technology on kids has led Dr. Katie Davis to advocate for regulation around AI and youth.
Now streaming: ‘The AI Doc’ is a film worth watching with your teens
The recently released documentary is garnering rave reviews from parents and AI policy-makers, so two of our Transparency Coalition experts gave it a watch recently. Their verdict: Two thumbs up!
TCAI guide: What parents should know about the social media addiction trials
The third in a series of landmark liability trials is opening this week in federal court in Oakland, California. In the first two trials, jurors found Instagram and YouTube liable for addicting and harming kids. What’s it all about? We have concise answers in clear, plain language.
National PTA ends Meta partnership over revelations in child-safety trials
The National Parent Teacher Association has ended its partnership with Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, due to revelations that have come to light as part of a series of landmark child-safety lawsuits.
Meta’s next move: Creepy AI facial recognition glasses that scan kids in public
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is all-in on the company’s surveillance glasses. The company has plans to embed AI facial recognition into the next version of its Ray-Bans, which could afoul of COPPA, the federal law protecting kids’ data.
Why is actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt testifying to protect kids from AI?
While conducting research for an upcoming Netflix project on AI, Gordon-Levitt spoke with people inside the tech world, as well as academic researchers and policy experts. What he learned alarmed him enough to speak out.
This AI toy allowed access to 50,000 kids chats before anybody caught it
Last month a researcher looked into the security of a Bondu AI toy like the one pictured above. He gained access to personal data and more than 50,000 children’s chats using nothing more than a Gmail account.
New survey finds overwhelming 96% support for protecting kids online
A majority of adults expressed support for age verification requirements around companion chatbots, while only 4% supported the idea that children do not need to be protected online.
A parent’s guide to AI toys: What to avoid and why
Today’s AI-driven plushies, dolls, action figures, and robots use sophisticated technology to interact with children like a trusted friend. It’s the same untested, unsafe AI tech behind ChatGPT.
A growing trust gap: Poll finds a majority of parents see AI as ‘bad for kids’
A recent survey of 800 parents found 61% see AI products as bad for kids. 80% said social media companies should be held accountable for harm to children and teens.
Transparency Coalition launches ‘Parents Playbook for AI’ to help families navigate the AI era
The new resource provides practical guidance, plain-language explanations, and timely information to help families make informed decisions about AI-powered tools.
Meta suppressed more research on child safety, employees tell Washington Post
A report in the Washington Post adds to the growing body of evidence showing that Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, has suppressed or ignored evidence of the harm its products cause.