AI in Media: Educating Young Minds and Reducing Screen-Related Stress

Young people are enjoying the benefits of AI, but this modern technology has a dark side, too. AI can create fake news and false realities, and the temptation of excessive screen time can harm young brains. We must protect our kids from these threats while providing tools to help reduce harmful technology in their lives. 

On the positive side, AI helps people learn, build, and envision limitless possibilities. 

AI, Education, and Young Minds

AI can positively transform teaching and learning. For example, AI benefits new teachers by providing AI-generated students to help them master techniques. Real-time feedback allows student-teachers to refine lessons and improve classroom management skills.

The most impressive impact, though, is on learners. Students can focus on curating and analyzing data by passing mundane tasks to AI. This enables learners to develop critical thinking skills. AI also helps students who are resistant to classroom interactions. 

However, before AI becomes an integral part of the classroom, you must teach your child essential digital literacy skills, including:

• How to safely use social media, including keeping personal information private to avoid cyberbullying;

• How to protect themselves online, including safe password creation and avoiding unknown links;

• How to use tools and verify AI-generated data.

To stay well-informed, young people require digital literacy skills to excel in education and their future careers. This skill set helps them avoid the problems that technology creates.

The Dark Side of Screen Time on Young Minds

Today's technology can be harmful to your kids. AI can be misleading, exposing your child to channels of misinformation. Kids and teens often spend too much time online, taking time away from human interaction. Let's explore some of the dangers your children may be exposed to.

AI and Misinformation

Your children should learn media literacy in the age of AI. This critical skill helps them find reliable sources and evaluate the information AI presents. The biggest problems caused by AI include:

• Biased information: AI retrieves information based on personalized searches because it learns from input. To avoid creating an echo chamber that regurgitates your perspective, teach your child to get information from diverse news sources and outlets.

• Deep fakes and misinformation: Thanks to the resourcefulness of modern AI, deep fakes can mimic a person, making them think they said or did something they didn't. Teach young people to confirm all video and audio data they find.

Critical thinking and analytical skills are necessary to discern truth from fake news. Help your children acquire these skills by questioning whether what they see aligns with reality.  

Stress and Health-Related Issues

Excessive screen time can negatively impact children. It can disrupt physical fitness, sleep patterns, behavior, language development, social skills, and attention. Set age-appropriate limits on-screen access to avoid these dangers. In addition, health-related problems can change brain chemistry and encourage unhealthy behaviors. Research has proven that young people can become addicted to cell phones and online gaming. Encourage your kids to participate in screen-free activities, like sports or board games, so they can learn to properly balance screen time.

Cutting Edge Tech Trends

As technology continues to advance, so too do the dangers. Teach your kids to safely navigate the latest tech trends to avoid these harms.

• Facebook’s metaverse requires virtual reality (VR) goggles, which can induce headaches and nausea. In addition to limiting their VR time, you can enter it yourself to get an idea of whether it is a safe environment.

• Sharing DNA online data with a company like 23andme can be dangerous. If your children are interested, pursue ancestry research together to keep your personal information safe. 

• NFTs are like cryptocurrency but come in fun forms that appeal to kids. They are unregulated, so your kids can be easily scammed, so teach them to use online currency wisely.

Keep track of the cutting edge. Even though some tech requires parental permission, many protections are easy to bypass. Always monitor how your child uses the internet.

How to Protect Your Child from Tech-Induced Stress

To start, a social media detox allows young people to reclaim their self-worth. Turning off their phone helps your child:

• Reduce exposure to online pressure to unrealistically change their body, such as desiring extreme weight loss.

• Replenish melatonin depleted by excessive screen time, which is required for adequate sleep.

• Restore their self-confidence by embracing enjoyable offline activities, like family outings and time outdoors.

Help your child avoid screen time by incorporating stress-reducing activities they can enjoy at home. Simple tasks, like exercise, improve sleep, mood, and focus can help. 

For example, research shows that incorporating yoga into a daily routine reduces stress and promotes physical flexibility, benefitting physical and mental health. Meditation is another activity that takes your child's focus off external distractions. You only need a mat and a quiet space in your home to practice to help your kids create inner peace that allows them to regain self-confidence and enjoy time offline. 

AI and screen time can be beneficial but harmful for young people. Teach your children about these dangers, including ways to protect themselves from tech-related health issues like stress. Doing so will help them live a well-balanced life.