Increased Use of AI Could Lead To Social Isolation In Children

A child who is shy, introvert or socially anxious might find it easier to talk to a chatbot than another person. That can be useful as a low-pressure way to explore ideas, but it should not become the child’s primary social outlet. Parents should ensure that use of AI does not lead to social isolation in children.

According to WHO the relationship between digital technology use and mental health is bidirectional which means: technology use can influence wellbeing, but children who are already experiencing mental health difficulties may also turn toward technology more heavily.

Because a child is using AI a lot, parents should not automatically assume that “my child is using AI a lot, therefore AI caused the problem of social isolation in my child”.

Think about it! There could be an underlying reason the child is looking up to AI.

Image Credit: Image by Thomas Park (Thomas Park (@thomascpark) | Unsplash Photo Community, Free to use Published on August 21, 2020)