3 weeks ago
Half of Australian children, teens use AI for personal reasons
Many kids in Australia are talking to computer programs called AI that can answer questions and chat.
A new survey asked kids and teens aged 10 to 17 about how they use these tools.
It found that more than half use AI for personal reasons, like asking for advice or talking about feelings.
About 78 percent of them had used an AI helper like ChatGPT.
Some kids share private information with AI, which can be risky because companies don't have to protect it like doctors do.
About one in five kids had a mean or scary experience with a chatbot.
AI can sound very smart, but it can also make things up and repeat unkind things it learned from data.
It often agrees with whatever you say, even if you are wrong.
That is why experts say parents and kids should explore AI together and talk about using it safely.
A new eSafety Commissioner survey of 1,950 Australians aged 10-17 found 54 per cent use AI tools for personal and social reasons.
78 per cent of children and teens had used an AI assistant such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude, with about 20 per cent using them at least daily.
Roughly one-third of those surveyed had disclosed personal information to AI tools, raising privacy concerns.
20 per cent reported potentially harmful or inappropriate interactions, including chatbots being mean, hateful, or controlling.
Around 10 per cent of teens used AI companions, with children with disabilities and LGBTQIA young people more likely to engage with them.
- Who
- Children and teens in Australia aged 10-17, surveyed by the eSafety Commissioner, and their parents and educators.
- What
- New survey data shows 54 per cent of Australian children and teens use AI for personal and social reasons, including health advice, discussing feelings, and role play, alongside privacy and safety risks.
- Where
- Australia.
- When
- The survey was conducted in February and March; the data was released this week in August.
- Why
- AI offers new opportunities for learning and entertainment, but personal use can expose young people to privacy breaches, harmful interactions, and misleading, overly agreeable responses.
AI Offers New Opportunities
AI Introduces New Risks
Children and teens using AI
AI Offers New Opportunities
AI tools serve as practical helpers for writing, editing, homework, information seeking and entertainment, offering new opportunities as they become part of young people's education and creative lives.
AI Introduces New Risks
Personal AI use can lead to disclosed private data being harvested as training material, harmful or controlling chatbot interactions, and sycophantic or fabricated responses that distort young people's perspectives.
Key facts
- Survey body
- eSafety Commissioner
- Sample size
- 1,950 Australians aged 10-17
- AI use for personal/social reasons
- 54 per cent
- Used an AI assistant
- 78 per cent
- Disclosed personal information to AI
- Roughly one-third
- Harmful or inappropriate interactions
- 20 per cent
- Teens using AI companions
- Around 10 per cent
- Children's Only Privacy Code
- Due to be enacted in December
Sources
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