How does AI amplify risks for children online?

Question

Accepted Answer

AI Amplifies Online Risks for Children Through Synthetic Content, Misinformation, and Manipulation

Artificial intelligence introduces significant new dangers for children navigating the digital landscape. These risks include the creation of synthetic abuse material and deepfakes, the proliferation of misinformation, and the development of more sophisticated methods of manipulation. While AI also offers benefits such as enhanced learning and creativity, its potential to generate harmful content and deceptive narratives poses a growing challenge to online child safety.
Creation of Synthetic Abuse Material and Deepfakes

AI technologies are enabling the generation of entirely new forms of harmful content. This includes "synthetic abuse material," which refers to non-consensual explicit content created using AI, and "deepfakes," which can convincingly alter or fabricate audio and video. The Internet Watch Foundation reported a staggering 26,000 per cent increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse videos in 2025 alone, highlighting the rapid escalation of this threat.
Proliferation of Misinformation

The capabilities of AI extend to the creation and dissemination of misinformation, which can be particularly damaging to young, impressionable minds. AI can generate convincing but false narratives at scale, making it increasingly difficult for children to discern factual information from fabricated content. This poses a challenge to their learning and understanding of the world.
More Persuasive Forms of Manipulation

Beyond factual falsehoods, AI also facilitates more persuasive forms of manipulation. This can manifest in personalised persuasive techniques, targeted advertising that exploits vulnerabilities, or social engineering tactics that are harder to detect. These advanced manipulation methods can influence children's behaviour, opinions, and decision-making in ways that are not always transparent or beneficial to their wellbeing.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

How does AI amplify risks for children online?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends