AI Chatbots & Kids: Helpful Tool or Hidden Risk?

AI chatbots are quickly becoming part of kids’ everyday lives. They can help with homework, answer questions, and even feel like someone to talk to. But there’s an important difference:

Chatbots are designed to keep you engaged—not necessarily to keep you safe.

What Is a Chatbot?

• AI chatbots are programs that generate responses based on patterns in data.

• They predict what to say next.

• Learn from large amounts of information

• Are designed to keep conversations going

• Why Kids Are Drawn to Them

• Chatbots can feel instant, non-judgmental and always available

• For some kids, that can make them feel like a:

  • Friend

  • Confidant

  • Safe place to share

— THE KEY RISK: They Feel Real —

Even though chatbots are not human, they can feel like they are.

That matters because:

• kids may trust them like a real person

• they may share personal or sensitive information

• they may rely on them for advice or support

👉 Research highlights growing reliance and emotional engagement• Pew Research Centerhttps://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/12/09/teens-social-media-and-ai-chatbots-2025/

Misinformation & Influence

Chatbots don’t “know” things the way people do.

They:• Can give incorrect or incomplete information• May sound confident even when wrong• Can be influenced by the data they were trained on

👉 Expert concern:• U.S. Department of Health and Human Serviceshttps://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/index.html

Emotional Dependence

Some kids may begin to rely on chatbots for:• Advice• Validation• Emotional support

But chatbots:• Don’t understand feelings• Don’t recognize risk in the same way humans do• Are not a substitute for real relationships

Privacy & Data Concerns

What kids share may not stay private.

• Conversations may be stored or used to improve systems• Personal information may be collected• Kids may not understand how their data is used

👉 Learn more:• Common Sense Mediahttps://www.commonsensemedia.org

What Kids Need to Hear

• Chatbots are not real people• Don’t share personal or private information• They can be wrong—even if they sound confident• Go to a real person for important or emotional issues

What Parents & Adults Can Do

• Ask: “Have you used AI tools or chatbots?”• Keep conversations open—not restrictive• Set boundaries around use• Encourage real-world connections• Reinforce: Real problems need real people

Bottom Line

AI chatbots can be useful tools.

But they are also:

Designed to engage,capable of influencing,and not built to replace human judgment or care

Buying Drugs Online

How social media — especially Snapchat — has changed the risk

WHAT’S CHANGED

Drug sales no longer happen only in person.

They now happen:

• Through social media apps

• In private messages

• With on-demand delivery

For many teens, this can look as simple as:sending a message on a phone

WHY Snapchat IS CENTRAL

Snapchat is frequently cited in law enforcement and news reporting because it offers:

• Disappearing messages

• Private, one-to-one communication

• Easy connection through usernames or contacts

• A perception of privacy and safety

These features make it attractive —not just for teens, but also for drug sellers.

WHAT REPORTING SHOWS

👉 NBC NewsFamilies and investigators say Snapchat has become a key platform for drug sales to teenshttps://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/snapchat-fentanyl-drugs-teens

👉 The New York TimesTeen overdoses linked to pills purchased through Snapchat dealershttps://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/03/technology/snapchat-drugs-fentanyl.html

👉 CBS NewsLaw enforcement describes how traffickers use apps to market and deliver drugshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/fentanyl-social-media-drug-sales-teens/

HOW IT WORKS

The process is fast — and often invisible to adults.

1. ContactA dealer is found through:

• Friends

• Social media posts

• Search terms or emojis

2. CommunicationPrivate messaging on Snapchat

3. OrderingPills or substances are selected — often appearing “legitimate”

4. Delivery

• Dropped off locally

• Mailed

• Picked up nearby

⚠️ THE BIGGEST DANGER: FAKE PILLS

This is where the risk has fundamentally changed.

Many pills sold online are:

• Not what they claim to be

• Manufactured to look like real medications

• Containing fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid

👉 Drug Enforcement AdministrationReports that a significant portion of counterfeit pills contain fentanylhttps://www.dea.gov/onepill

WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PAST

In previous generations:

• Drugs were obtained through known contacts

• There was some level of predictability

Today:

• Buyers often do not know the seller

• Pills are visually identical to real medications

• There is no way to verify what’s inside

The risk is no longer just “using drugs.”The risk is unknowingly taking something lethal.

WHY TEENS DON’T SEE THE RISK

From their perspective:

• It looks like ordering something online

• It feels quick and private

• Pills look familiar and safe

They are NOTthinking:  “This could be fatal”

WARNING SIGNS

Adults may notice:

• Hidden or secondary Snapchat accounts

• Frequent or secretive messaging

• Unfamiliar usernames or contacts

• Packages or meetups that seem unusual

• Sudden behavioral or mood changes

WHAT HELPS

For parents and professionals:

• Talk directly about how drugs are sold today

• Emphasize:“You don’t actually know what you’re getting.”

• Keep communication:

  • Open

  • Non-judgmental

  • Ongoing

• Reinforce:“If something feels off — pause and check with a trusted adult.”

KEY TAKEAWAY

This is not just about drugs.

It is about: Access + anonymity + counterfeit products

And that combination has made the risk far more immediate and unpredictable.

FINAL THOUGHT

What looks like a simple messagecan lead to a life-altering — or life-ending — outcome.

Because today:  You don’t actually know what’s in the pill.

Cyberbullying

How harm has moved from the playground to the phone

WHAT THIS IS

Cyberbullying is not just “kids being mean online.”

It is:

• Persistent

• Public

• Often anonymous

• And can follow a child 24/7

Unlike traditional bullying, it doesn’t end when school ends.

👉 Pew Research CenterTeens report widespread exposure to harassment and online crueltyhttps://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/11/16/teens-and-cyberbullying-2022/

WHY IT’S DIFFERENT NOW

Digital platforms have changed the scale and impact of bullying.

Today:

• Messages can spread instantly

• Harmful content can be shared repeatedly

• Anonymous accounts reduce accountability

• Posts can remain long after the moment passes

👉 Associated PressCoverage highlights growing concern over online harassment and its impact on youthhttps://apnews.com/article/social-media-teen-mental-health-harassment

HOW IT SHOWS UP

Cyberbullying can take many forms:

• Harassing messages or comments

• Spreading rumors or false information

• Posting embarrassing photos or videos

• Impersonation or fake accounts

• Excluding individuals from online groups

👉 CNNReports on how online harassment affects teens’ mental healthhttps://www.cnn.com/2023/03/23/health/social-media-teens-mental-health

THE IMPACT

This is not harmless behavior.

Research and reporting show links between cyberbullying and:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Isolation

• Academic decline

• In severe cases, self-harm

👉 NBC NewsCoverage on the mental health impact of online bullyinghttps://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/teens-social-media-cyberbullying-impact

WHY KIDS DON’T SPEAK UP

Many children and teens stay silent.

Common reasons include:

• Fear of losing access to their phone or apps

• Embarrassment or shame

• Belief that nothing will change

• Concern about making things worse

👉 The New York TimesReporting on why teens often don’t report online harmhttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/08/technology/teen-cyberbullying-reporting

WARNING SIGNS

Adults may notice:

• Sudden withdrawal from devices or, the opposite, obsessive use

• Changes in mood after being online

• Avoidance of school or social situations

• Secrecy around online activity

• Changes in sleep or appetite

THE ROLE OF PLATFORMS

Cyberbullying is not just about individual behavior.

Platform features can amplify harm:

• Comment sections that allow pile-ons

• Anonymous accounts

• Algorithms that amplify engaging (often negative) content

• Group chats that isolate individuals

👉 The Wall Street JournalInvestigations into how platform design can intensify harmful contenthttps://www.wsj.com/articles/social-media-algorithms-harm-teens

WHAT HELPS

For adults supporting children:

• Keep communication open and non-punitive

• Encourage documentation (screenshots)

• Report and block when appropriate

• Involve schools when it impacts the school environment

• Reinforce that seeking help is a strength, not a weakness

UPSTANDER VS. BYSTANDER

One of the most powerful interventions is peer behavior.

Bystander:

• Watches

• Scrolls past

• Says nothing

Upstander:

• Supports the person being targeted

• Reports harmful content

• Refuses to participate in piling on

👉 StopBullying.govGuidance on how to respond to bullyinghttps://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it

WHY THIS MATTERS

Cyberbullying is not isolated behavior.

It is part of a broader digital environment where:

• Attention is rewarded

• Conflict spreads quickly

• Harm can scale

Understanding this helps shift the conversation from:“Why did they do that?” → “What systems allow this to spread?”

KEY TAKEAWAY

Cyberbullying is:  Persistent + Public + Amplified

And without intervention, it can escalate quickly.

FINAL THOUGHT

What used to happen in whispersnow happens on screens —and can be seen, shared, and repeated by hundreds or thousands.