ChatGPT by OpenAI is one of those “WOW” tech moments that you wouldn’t want your kid to miss. However, just because it’s cool doesn’t mean it’s also safe. In fact, ChatGPT comes with a few sneaky risks like misinformation and over-reliance.
Luckily, there are parental monitoring tools such as mSpy that can assist you in navigating those worries and making your child safer online.
Why ChatGPT Might Not Be Kid-Friendly
It’s wild that if you actually ask ChatGPT if it poses any dangers for kids, it says, “Yes, it can be dangerous!” ChatGPT even admits it could accidentally spread some not-so-accurate information. So what’s the actual risk?
- Education Cheating: It makes it tempting for kids to cheat on essays, assignments, or other coursework rather than do it themselves.
- Misinformation & Bias: It can spout nonsense sometimes and be heavily politically biased.
- Inappropriate Content: Even with filters, some answers may not be kid-friendly.
- Overuse & Dependency: Too much ChatGPT can erode their creativity and problem-solving skills.
- Emotional Damage: Substituting human interaction with AI may lead to confusion, emotional miscommunications, or even isolation.
- Privacy Risks: Your kid may provide their personal information, such as full names, addresses, and private questions, jeopardizing security.
The bottom line? ChatGPT isn’t evil, but it shouldn’t be free-for-all either, particularly for children using it without supervision.
How to Keep Your Child Safe on ChatGPT
As a parent, you can take measures to reduce risks while letting your child responsibly reap the benefits of AI. Here’s how:
- Monitor Their Activity with mSpy
The first step towards safeguarding your child is knowing what they’re doing online. Best spy app for iPhone mSpy is the parental monitoring app that makes it easy, allowing you to:
- Review browsing history to spot excessive ChatGPT use.
- Get alerts when your child types specific restricted words or phrases
- Block access to AI apps and websites if needed.
- Monitor messages, social media activity, and even real-time location.
There’s a free demo on the mSpy website, so you can test-drive the features before diving in.
- Set Healthy Boundaries for ChatGPT Usage
When you understand how much (and how) they’re using ChatGPT, sit down with them and establish boundaries.
- Enforce no ChatGPT during homework
- Talk about how not everything it says is true and that they should always fact-check.
- Stress the value of critical thinking and making independent decisions.
- No ChatGPT for Kids Under 13
OpenAI’s Terms of Use state clearly that children under the age of 13 (or the statutory minimum in your country) shouldn’t be using ChatGPT at all. And even minors under 18 need parental consent. And that’s for a reason.
If your child is still in grade school, it’s best to wait and use AI platforms designed specifically for children, with built-in filters and safety nets.
Wrapping Up
ChatGPT is a wonderful tool, but it’s not plug-and-play safe for kids. Before you let your kids use it, set boundaries on its usage and take help from tools such as mSpy to steer your kids through the AI world without losing the advantages of modern technology.
