A 14-year-old boy committed suicide following the advice of an AI chatbot. Another family is suing for the same, alleging a character AI told a 14-year-old autistic boy to kill his parents. It also exposed children as young as 11 to sexual content.
These stories are a stark reminder that young people are particularly vulnerable online, but it's not just AI targeting them.
How to (kindly) ask people not to post photos of your child on social media
According to the good folks at the FBI's criminal division, the amount of money teenagers have lost to fraud has increased by 2,500% in the last five years. Compare this to an 805% increase among seniors. This is still not huge, but at least not 2,500%.
So why teenagers? That's because thieves have more options than ever before. Talk to people around you who were born between 1996 and 2010 about this. That's a big deal.
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The most prevalent scams and schemes
Influenced by: Let's say you have a child in your family who aspires to be an online influencer. That person is very easy to impersonate. All a scammer has to do is set up a fake account that looks real, run a contest, trick the “winner” into handing over personal information (or more), and claim the (non-existent) prize. That's all. It's over, it's over.
This file photo shows a person checking his smartphone in Glenview, Illinois. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Hua, File)
Pro tip: Use “official” influencer accounts that have a significant number of followers. Small accounts are most often scammers and are not secret accounts. Also, don't give anyone financial information or money through DMs.
“Hello, I'm handsome”: It's a classic for a reason. Scammers obtain photos of attractive teens or 20-somethings and play digital Casanova. Before they know it, they confess their love, but then comes requests for money, gifts, or information.
Pro tip: Try a reverse image search to see if these photos appear elsewhere online. If the other person refuses to video call or meet in person, that's a bad sign.
Related: Deepfakes are extremely easy to create. Discuss this with your children.
“Please send a photo”: This is a dangerous place where smartphones, sexting, and scammers intersect. Someone shares a sexy photo and asks for something in return. Everything changes as soon as the victim sends a photo or video.
AI Expert: CHATGPT prompts you wish you knew sooner
The other party is now threatening them. If the victim does not pay, the content will be shared with everyone the victim knows. Think about how scary that can be at any age, but especially for teenagers. We spoke to a family who lost their son to suicide. After this happened to him. It's a very heartbreaking story, but they are not alone. This is all too common.
Pro tip: Talk to your kids about sending photos to others online. Encourage people never to share explicit content, even with people they know and trust. It's not worth it.
“I won!”…No”: This is targeted at young teens. Thieves trick them into revealing credit card details or downloading malware under the guise of rewards from their favorite games.
Social media apps are captured on smartphones. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Pro tip: This is easy. App purchases and in-app purchases should only be made through the official app store. There's nothing transactional or “private” about it.
So what can you do?
The internet is a great resource for learning, creativity, and fun, but don't let it surface. There is danger lurking there. Scammers and predators have become experts at manipulation, and children can become easy victims. What is the most important thing you can do as a parent? Promote open and honest communication.
When my son was little, I gave him age-appropriate talks about things he might encounter online. We discussed the risks in a way he understood. He knew that if something or someone made him feel uncomfortable, he should come to me right away, no questions asked.
Do this with your family videos before it's too late
That's the foundation. It's trust. Children need to know that it's okay to be fooled. Today's online predators are sneaky, and scammers know exactly how to win your child's trust. If your child is targeted, it is never their fault.
This is my free technical safety contract If you're not sure where to start the conversation about technical limitations, you can also sign together.
Action plan for parents
Remember when you had a fake driver's license or told little lies to get what you wanted? Kids have a way to get around parental controls, and when you sign up you need to know their year of birth. smart enough to spin the wheel and get around the age restriction.
A mother and her teenage daughter are seen using a smartphone. (St. Petersburg)
Related: Best apps and gadgets to monitor your kids (from preschoolers to teens)
Set clear ground rules for screen time and device use, and keep the conversation going as it grows. Follow a few simple steps.
- I have a mobile phone passcode: You need access to everything, all the time. They need to know you can stop by, even if you don't stop by often.
- Set limits. Use built-in app controls to monitor how much time you use the app and use tools like content filters to limit exposure to inappropriate material.
- “Friend” or “Follow”: Stay connected on social media and see their circles and interactions. Without open dialogue, they will find ways around you.
- Understand special settings. With Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube, you can: Connect to your child's account.
The best protection is to be your child's go-to resource for help and guidance. Let your kids know you're there and ready to listen no matter what. That's a real safety net.
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