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If all parents read were the headlines, they’d know two things about AI: “There’s a 10% chance that it’s going to kill us all.” And, they’d know “it’s, like, incredibly dangerous for teens.”
That’s according to Emily Oster, parenting expert and economics professor at Brown University who sat down with CNBC Make It at OpenAI’s ChatGPT for Teens Parent Forum on Wednesday.
As she noted, today’s parents (along with everyone else) have to navigate a regular onslaught of doomsday coverage about the dangers of new and existing tech. “That is a very anxiety provoking experience” for a parent, says Oster.
Even so, before you try to restrict your kids to their bedroom until they’re 18 — or set any other boundaries as a result of that fear and paranoia, here’s what Oster recommends.
Equip yourself
When new online platforms start proliferating and the internet weighs in, the first thing you can do is get informed, suggests Oster.
“I do think there is value for parents in exploring some of these tools,” she adds. The goal does not have to be to make any decision about how your child should use them. It’s just about getting a first-hand understanding of what these platforms are.
You might discover they’re not as scary as they seem. Or even if you remain concerned, you’ll have a better understanding of what those boundaries should be. “You’re coming into the conversation feeling more empowered,” she says.
Control your domain
With kids, the best way to avoid falling victim to the doom and gloom is to take control of the spaces where you have greater influence: Your home. “A stable home environment with parents who love them, who are supporting them,” says Oster, “that is the thing that you control.”
She adds that “we probably spend too little time investing in this thing that we control relative to worrying about what’s happening outside.”
Research supports the idea of the key role a home life plays in a child’s upbringing. One that is warm, open and includes appropriate limits is associated with higher self-esteem and better school performance, among other outcomes, according to the American Psychological Association.
At your house, focus on that love and support as well as the parameters you can set, such as no screens or phones overnight. And when you need encouragement, remember “how important that foundation is for when you send your kid out into the world,” says Oster.
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