2 million kids turn to AI for advice

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July 3, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — More than two million children – or one in 10 – said they turn to artificial intelligence for life advice on things that worry them, and an estimated 13 million children reported using AI to help with schoolwork and homework, according to the United Nations children’s agency.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said children are adopting AI technologies more than three times faster than adults, while safeguards are failing to keep pace with the technology’s rapid adoption.

“Analysis by UNICEF drawing on new data from 10 countries estimates that at least 20 million children have used artificial intelligence,” UNICEF said.

While AI offers new opportunities for learning and creativity, UNICEF warned that evidence about its effects on children’s development, emotional well-being and exposure to harm, is only beginning to emerge.

Children themselves are increasingly aware of the risks. One-third of those surveyed expressed concern that AI could be used to scam people or spread misinformation, while one-quarter feared their images or videos could be manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes.

UNICEF warned that children are often the first to experience the consequences of poorly regulated AI systems, despite having little control over how the technology is designed or how their personal data is collected and used.

Perfectionism

Experts found that believing others expect perfection from them increases Filipino students’ vulnerability to poor well-being and unhealthy coping.

The study, authored by Jeryl Shawn Tan, Andrew Hill and Daniel Madigan of York St. John University and released by the University of the Philippines Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs said that modern-day students’ irrational desire to be perfect is alarmingly on the rise. — Bella Cariaso