Have Kids? That’s What You Should Tell Them About ChatGPT

Your kids are quite probably already using ChatGPT. And if they’re still not, they will – tomorrow, next week, or month. That’salmost a fact. Will they do it the right way? Will they do it the safe way? We’ve analyzed how kids typically use the notorious AI-based language model and – since they are doing it whether we like it or not – came up with 6 recommendations on how kids can do that most safely.

How Kids Typically Use ChatGPT

Just in case you didn’t know, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence-based large language model that can maintain a dialog with human users and uses the information it has been trained on (mostly from the Internet) to do various tasks that they require. For instance, answer questions on virtually any topic, compose a creative or academic text, solve a math problem, write code for a website or an app, or give advice on almost anything. You must admit, it’s a huge leap forward from traditional writing assistance stuff like a sample by a free essays writer or an already solved equation example.

As far as we can tell, most typically, kids use ChatGPT for:

• Fun. For example, asking silly questions about themselves or their idols, creating superhero stories, getting a guide on how to complete a game mission, etc.
• Awkward questions. Kids are well-known for their ability to ask uncomfortable questions that parents aren’t always able or willing to answer. How do people fit into TV? How does Santa Claus get into the house if there’s no chimney? Why did God let granny die? Well, you get the idea.
• Homework help. On the one hand, they can ask AI to break down complex concepts they didn’t grasp in class or find an answer to a question necessary to complete an assignment. On the other hand, they can use it to cheat and just copy-paste solutions.
• Brainstorming. Even when a kid is willing to complete homework by themselves, coming up with an interesting topic or project idea might be an issue. In that context, ChatGPT can be a great starting point.
• Hobby. Whether your kid likes coding, gardening, cooking, playing chess, or origami, ChatGPT can give them virtually anything they need to do better in their favorite craft.

These endeavors might be interesting and even useful (at this point, we’ll leave homework-related worries about possible cheating aside). However, what your kid is doing with the help of ChatGPT is secondary to ensuring their safety while they use this new, practically unexplored tool.

6 Things You Should Explain to Kids, So They Can Use ChatGPT Safely

Terms of use state that only users over 18 are allowed to operate ChatGPT. However, there’s no age verification within the registration process, so the utility is available for anybody. Hell, even websites where you can hire an assignment or essay helper to craft a unique paper for you are much stricter with this stuff! Eventually, kids can effortlessly access ChatGPT, and there’s hardly a way for you to prevent it. Yet, as they say, if you can’t beat’em, join’em.

For starters, you must realize that ChatGPT itself is neither good nor bad – as is artificial intelligence as a whole, for that matter. It’s just a tool one can use to achieve their goals.Your main task is to understand how to use it safely and teach your kids that – we mean conceptually, not technically.The latter part, they probably know better than you anyway. Ideally, you should also monitor how kids use ChatGPT or at least regularly check conversation history. But let’s be realistic about that – this is impossible, and you wouldn’t be doing it even if it was. Plus, kids are spectacularly good at avoiding parental control, we’re sure you know that already. So here are several pieces of valuable advice on what you should tell to set them on the right path.

1. First of all, make sure they understand how ChatGPT actually works. Explain that when the program generates the text, it basically just adds the most predictable word after a word,given the constraints you set. Still not clear enough?Why don’t you make an entertaining exercise out of it? Try tofigureit out together and ask ChatGPT to spell out how it works in simple words so that your kid can understand it.
2. Teach kids to never provide any personally identifying information, for instance, their full name, home address, phone number, etc. This ban should also cover any sensitive and general personal information of all family members. It includes employment and studying information, health details, car and its number, etc. ChatGPT stores all the inputs you make, and there’s no certainty of how it is or can be used in the future.
3. By default, asimilar ban goes for any financial information, tax-related matters, debts, etc. Hopefully, you’ve already talked this stuff through with your kids on a number of other occasions, so that should be the easy one.
4. Specifically stress that they mustn’t download any ChatGPTapps or jailbreaks! The thing is, as of now, the “official” ChatGPT is only available via the web-based interface. Yet, as it uses open-source code, there are already dozens of Android and iOS apps based on it. Downloading and installing them on kids’ devices is not a good idea, as they may lead to data theft.
5. Explicitly explain to kids that they cannot trust anything ChatGPT says! As advanced and smart as the technology ChatGPT utilizes is, due to its flaws, it still cannot differentiate fiction and fakes from the truth with 100% certainty. Checking and double-checking all the received information must be a rule of thumb. And never ever should they ask and follow any ChatGPT advice regarding health and other sensitive issues – it can be really dangerous!
6. Finally, make sure that kids understand that they mustn’t copy content by ChatGPT and present it as their own paper, answer, or homework solution. AI-generated content can be fairly easily identified, both by a human and with the help of specialized detectors. Thus, kids can be caughtcheating and even accused of plagiarism, which will put a stain on their reputation andjeopardize their academic career.

These are the principal elements you should voice to your children. If needed, talk them through several times and make sure kids understand the risks and limitations of ChatGPT. A good idea would also be to monitor the inquiry log and use AI-based tools together during the initial period. Thus, your chances of successfully conveying the idea that the right and safe way of using ChatGPT is exploiting it as a supplementary tool, not a magic wand that will make all your wishes come true.

BONUS: How to Opt Out ChatGPT

It’s an open secret that ChatGPT saves and stores all information you enter in the dialog box. Officially, this is done to analyze the received data and use it to improve the models OpenAI exploits. This should supposedly help the company make ChatGPT more accurate and less biased. However, you can quite easily opt out of data collection for your and/or your kids’ accounts. This step can be essential for protecting your or your kids’ personal information in case it seeps into ChatGPT despite all of your efforts. Here’s how you can prohibit OpenAIfrom using your data:

• Open the opt-out request form created by OpenAI specifically for ChatGPT.
• Below the form’s text, type in theemail address you used to create an OpenAI account.
• Then, paste the Organization ID from your account. It can be found in Account Settings once you log in.
• Optionally, enter the Organization Name, which can also be found in Account Settings.
• Click on Submit and solve the captcha if required.

Also, you can permanently delete your OpenAI account. To this end, do the following:

• Log in to your OpenAI account.
• Click Help at the top right corner of the screen.
• In the pop-up chat window, click on the Search for help field and then on the Send us a message button.
• Select theAccount Deletionoption from the list at the bottom of the screen and follow the provided instructions.