Lessons from Social Media Battles Shape AI Safety Efforts for Children

Years after the dangers of social media for children became evident, U.S. states have reached significant settlements with tech companies. Meanwhile, a new generation of children is beginning to engage with artificial intelligence (AI), a technology whose risks for young people are still emerging.

The efforts to enhance social media safety, though still developing, offer crucial lessons for protecting children from the potential harms of AI. Experts emphasize the importance of acting sooner to mitigate risks associated with AI, given its rapid advancement and pervasive nature.

Kristin Bride, a parent advocate who has campaigned for social media reform since the death of her teenage son, noted the progress made through settlements like the one with Meta. However, she questioned how to address the unknown risks of newer technologies like AI. "How are we going to get at what we don’t know is coming?" she asked.

AI companies are beginning to implement safety features seen in social media, such as age verification and restricted user experiences for minors. Yet, advocates argue that the most critical takeaway from the social media experience is the need for early intervention in addressing AI's potential harms.

Dr. Dana Suskind, a professor at the University of Chicago and author, stated, "We learned that we had it all backwards, right? You don’t unleash something on a population, figure out if it does harm or not in real time, and then go back and say, ‘Oops.’" She hopes this lesson prevents society from repeating the same mistakes with AI.

Concerns surrounding social media have largely focused on excessive screen time, its impact on children's mental health, data privacy, and vulnerability to online predators. AI, however, presents a more complex challenge. Children are exposed to AI-generated content on social media, can interact directly with AI chatbots, and use AI for educational purposes. Some have developed concerning attachments to chatbots, and experts are investigating AI's effects on child brain development. Furthermore, AI-powered toys for very young children are becoming increasingly common.

Both social media and AI safety for children are being addressed through legal and legislative avenues. Lawsuits have been filed against tech companies, and lawmakers are actively discussing regulatory approaches.

Compared to social media companies, AI giants have moved more swiftly to adopt safeguards, potentially influenced by the intense scrutiny faced by social media platforms regarding their impact on youth mental health.

OpenAI introduced teen accounts for ChatGPT in August, incorporating restrictions such as banning romantic conversations and claims of personal feelings. Meta, on the other hand, launched teen accounts on Instagram in 2024, years after its initial acquisition of the platform in 2012.

In response to the settlement this summer, Meta stated that ensuring a safe experience for teens is a priority and encouraged competitors like TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar standards. However, experts note that the protections established for social media may not be directly applicable to AI due to differing user interaction patterns.

Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell University’s Tech Policy Institute, explained that distinguishing the benefits and drawbacks of AI for minors is more challenging than with social media. While concerns about academic dishonesty exist, AI also offers significant benefits for tutoring and homework assistance. "It’s not a matter of just saying ‘let’s limit this to two hours’... because there are these salutary uses of AI that I think are harder to justify in the context of social media," Kreps said.

According to the Pew Research Center, 64% of U.S. teens have used AI chatbots, primarily for information gathering and schoolwork. A significant portion also use them for entertainment, summarization, and even emotional support.

Jonathan Haidt, author of "The Anxious Generation," expressed greater concern about the potential for young people to form attachments with chatbots and the phenomenon of "cognitive offloading," where individuals rely on AI to perform cognitive tasks. "I have long thought that AI is a much bigger threat to children even than social media," Haidt said, adding that failure to address social media harms could make tackling AI risks seem hopeless.

While litigation has held social media companies accountable, federal legislation for social media has progressed slowly, and AI regulation lags further behind. The Trump administration has voiced concerns that regulation could impede AI companies' growth and America's global lead in AI development. However, some lawmakers are pushing for progress.

Legislation focused on children's AI safety, including issues like youth privacy, chatbot interactions, and AI toy safety, has seen bipartisan support in Senate subcommittees. However, the path to becoming law remains long. State-level legislation is advancing more rapidly, mirroring the role states have played in addressing social media harms.

Kreps observed that in the U.S. federal system, states often lead in enacting laws on various issues, making federal legislation or rules more complex to implement.

Some believe the increased awareness of online dangers for children is the most significant outcome of the recent social media safety advancements. Bride acknowledged that while it is encouraging to see legislators addressing AI, the pace of technological development often outstrips legislative efforts, leaving children vulnerable to ongoing harms. "I don’t think we can afford any more mea culpas when kids are concerned," she stated.