Children are embracing artificial intelligence at a pace more than three times faster than adults, raising new concerns about online safety, privacy, and digital well-being, according to a report released Tuesday by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Ahead of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance, UNICEF said AI is becoming an increasingly influential part of children’s daily lives, offering educational benefits while also exposing young users to significant risks.
Based on data collected from 10 countries, the agency estimates that at least 20 million children have already used AI-powered tools. Around 2 million children, or one in every 10 AI users surveyed, said they rely on artificial intelligence for advice about personal concerns and emotional issues.
The report also found that approximately 13 million children use AI to assist with schoolwork, homework, and learning activities, highlighting the technology’s growing role in education.
Despite these benefits, UNICEF warned that children often have little control over how AI systems are designed, how their personal data is collected, or how the technology affects their online experiences.
The survey revealed that one-third of children worry AI could be used to spread misinformation, deceive people through scams, or manipulate information. Meanwhile, one in four expressed concern about AI-generated deepfakes that could alter their images or videos into sexually explicit content.
UNICEF said many AI platforms continue to reach children without adequate safeguards, arguing that safety measures have not kept pace with the rapid development of the technology.
The agency urged governments, technology companies, and international organizations to place children’s rights at the center of AI regulation. It called for stronger protections against AI-enabled exploitation, greater investment in research on AI’s impact on young people, improved transparency in AI systems, expanded digital literacy programs, and efforts to bridge the digital divide.
UNICEF stressed that decisions made today about artificial intelligence will have lasting consequences for children’s safety, privacy, education, and equal access to future opportunities.
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