Date
Publisher
arXiv
Generative AI (GAI) is reshaping the way young users engage with technology. This study introduces a taxonomy of risks associated with youth-GAI interactions, derived from an analysis of 344 chat transcripts between youth and GAI chatbots, 30,305 Reddit discussions concerning youth engagement with these systems, and 153 documented AI-related incidents. We categorize risks into six overarching themes, identifying 84 specific risks, which we further align with four distinct interaction pathways. Our findings highlight emerging concerns, such as risks to mental wellbeing, behavioral and social development, and novel forms of toxicity, privacy breaches, and misuse/exploitation that are not fully addressed in existing frameworks on child online safety or AI risks. By systematically grounding our taxonomy in empirical data, this work offers a structured approach to aiding AI developers, educators, caregivers, and policymakers in comprehending and mitigating risks associated with youth-GAI interactions.
Study at a glance
- Question: What risks do young people face when interacting with generative AI?
- Setting and data: 344 youth-chatbot transcripts, 30,305 Reddit discussions on youth engagement, and 153 documented AI-related incidents
- Method: Analysis and categorization of chat transcripts, online discussions, and documented incident reports
Why it matters
Generative AI is reshaping how young users engage with technology. However, existing frameworks on child online safety or AI risks do not fully address emerging concerns regarding mental wellbeing, development, toxicity, privacy breaches, and exploitation.
Key findings
- Generative AI poses 84 distinct risks to youth across six themes, documented across 344 chat transcripts, 30,305 online discussions, and 153 incidents.
- Emerging risks for youth include harm to mental wellbeing, behavioral and social development, novel forms of toxicity, privacy breaches, and misuse or exploitation.
- Existing child online safety and AI frameworks do not fully address these emerging risks associated with youth generative AI use.
Summary drafted with AI from the paper’s abstract and may contain errors. See the full paper for details.
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