The global childhood rights organizations SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit and Terre des Hommes have issued warnings regarding the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) to children and adolescents, while simultaneously acknowledging the opportunities it presents. In a joint study reported by the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” news network, they point out that AI is already profoundly integrated into the daily lives of young people.
AI influences areas ranging from education and social media to search engines, entertainment, and creative tools. Often operating invisibly, the technology ensures that young people frequently interact with it before they even recognize what they are engaging with. The study highlights that risks and opportunities are intrinsically linked: the very characteristics that enable personalization, creativity, and accessibility also carry dangers, such as the potential for misinformation, bias, dependence, and commercial exploitation.
The study authors warn that the burden of risk outweighs existing protective measures. Experts deemed the exposure of children and the potential damage they face to be high, noting that current technical, institutional, and regulatory safeguards remain insufficient.
While major tech companies pour unimaginable resources into developing AI applications, the corresponding legal regulations are falling dangerously behind. To mitigate the risks posed by AI to children, the organizations argue that comprehensive measures must be adopted. However, protecting children goes beyond simply reducing risks. Sabina Schutter, the board member of SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit, emphasized that children and adolescents require the necessary skills to utilize digital spaces critically, safely, and confidently.
Joshua Hofert, a spokesperson for Terre des Hommes, elaborated that children are not just growing up alongside AI; they are growing up with it. He stressed that while tech conglomerates profit billions, young people often remain unprotected-particularly against deepfakes, manipulative algorithms, and emotional dependence. Therefore, child protection must be integral to the design of every AI application from the outset. Hofert called for mandatory standards for “Safety by Design,” effective age verification, and the systematic involvement of children in AI regulation.
SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit focuses on helping orphaned or abandoned children, or those whose families are unable to provide adequate care. Terre des Hommes works to protect children from violence, exploitation, and the consequences of war, displacement, and environmental destruction.
