How We Dropped the Ball with Kids and Social Media, and How We Can Avoid That Mistake with AI
Social media emerged so swiftly and ubiquitously into daily life that no one had time to truly understand its implications, especially for children. We watched our kids pick up smartphones and engage with platforms we hardly understood ourselves.
We didn’t set clear guidelines or boundaries because, frankly, we didn’t know we needed to. And now, the consequences are clearer, and more troubling, than ever.
Where We Went Wrong with Social Media
We introduced a generation of children to an unprecedented digital landscape without a roadmap. Kids, naturally curious and eager for validation, dove headfirst into platforms designed to captivate and hold their attention. Social media promised connection but delivered anxiety. It guaranteed entertainment but came at the cost of focus, sleep, and self-esteem.
Studies like those found in Jean Twenge’s book, “iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy–and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood”, and Jonathan Haidt’s influential work, “The Coddling of the American Mind“, have shown how our lack of early intervention and guidance has resulted in a generation struggling with unprecedented mental health issues.
Kids have been flooded with unrealistic portrayals of life, continuous social comparisons, and unfiltered access to adult content, no controls, no guardrails. Now we grapple with a young population increasingly prone to anxiety, depression, and chronic distraction, struggling to develop critical social skills and self-confidence, all while sacrificing the precious innocence of childhood.
In short, we didn’t educate our children about social media; we simply handed it to them. And now we’re scrambling to fix something we should have proactively managed.
Here Comes the Next Wave: Artificial Intelligence
Just as we’ve begun understanding the social media damage, we face another powerful technological transformation: AI.
Artificial Intelligence tools, especially generative ones like ChatGPT, are becoming as common as the calculator. Already, students use them to write essays, complete homework, and answer exam questions. Without intervention, we risk repeating history, but with even more dire consequences.
AI, much like the calculator in the last century, risks atrophying the intellectual muscles of our children. Just as mental math faded with the rise of handheld calculators, critical thinking and creativity might atrophy as AI-generated content becomes the norm.
If left unchecked, the ease of AI will erode students’ fundamental skills, reading comprehension, logical reasoning, creativity, and effective communication. These aren’t just academic skills; they’re life skills, crucial to navigating adulthood.
Moreover, overreliance on AI can weaken the very foundation of education: the ability to question, to debate, and to create genuinely original thought. Soon, students may graduate without having developed these essential skills, left unequipped for the realities of life.
Avoiding Another Social Media Mistake: Taking Control of AI
Fortunately, we’re still in a position to learn from our social media missteps. We now recognize the consequences of leaving children unsupervised in digital landscapes. AI doesn’t have to repeat that tragic history, but only if parents and educators step forward with proactive guidelines.
Here’s how we can avoid making the same mistakes with AI:
1. Establish Clear Guidelines and Boundaries Early
We must define clear boundaries around AI usage in school and at home. Make sure kids understand when and how it’s appropriate to use AI and when it undermines genuine learning. Early structure prevents confusion and overdependence later on.
2. Teach the Risks Explicitly
We must educate children explicitly on the dangers of over-reliance on AI. They should understand how easily it can stunt their intellectual growth, making them reliant rather than resourceful.
Just as we’ve finally started teaching digital literacy around social media, we must now teach “AI literacy”, helping kids identify limitations, biases, and proper use cases for these tools. While doing that, we just can’t forget about basic literacy.
3. Show Kids We Understand the Technology Too
Kids easily dismiss adults who seem clueless about new technology. To be credible, we must demonstrate our own understanding and thoughtful use of AI tools. By showing them that we see AI as a tool, not a crutch, we lead by example, reinforcing a healthy relationship with technology. Even yearbooks are being digitized, so we have to make sure we teach them how to use these tools, and how to know when they are not in the range of safety.
4. Emphasize Critical Thinking and Creativity
Schools should adapt quickly, placing renewed emphasis on teaching critical thinking, originality, and communication skills that AI can supplement, but never replace. Rather than banning AI outright, we should strategically integrate it into lessons as a resource to support, not replace, student effort.
Moving Forward Thoughtfully
We’ve seen firsthand the cost of neglecting guidance and structure in digital spaces. Social media caught us unaware; we weren’t ready. Now, our children are paying a high price in mental health and social development.
AI technology is evolving rapidly, and its transformative potential, both positive and negative, is immense. As educators, parents, and guardians, our task is to step ahead this time, thoughtfully guiding the next generation through this new digital revolution.
By embracing clear boundaries, teaching critical risks and benefits, modeling intelligent use, and re-centering education around fundamental skills, we can ensure our children grow with the technology rather than becoming passive consumers of it.
Let’s not drop the ball again. Our children deserve better, and now, equipped with hindsight and foresight, we have the power to deliver it.