image from freepik
Crossing Lines
AI entrepreneurs are back in action, this time targeting the developing minds of your children with their quick-money schemes.
According to a concerning Wired report, scammers utilize generative tools to produce peculiar and nonsensical YouTube kids’ videos. These videos, often resembling the popular show Cocomelon, rarely carry labels indicating they are AI-generated. Given their widespread presence and similarity to regular content, busy parents might overlook these AI-generated videos, which already amass millions of views and subscribers on YouTube.
In essence, young children glued to tablets seem to be consuming vast quantities of mind-numbing AI content, unbeknownst to their parents.
Cocomelon Hell
As Wired explains, a straightforward YouTube search yields a plethora of videos from AI profiteers, instructing others on using various AI programs to create videos ranging from a few minutes to over an hour in length. While some claim educational value, the quality varies significantly. It’s improbable that these mass-produced AI videos undergo consultation with childhood development experts. The notion of profiting from unmarked AI-generated content, tailored for media-illiterate toddlers, under the guise of education appears dubious.
According to Wired, experts like Tufts University neuroscientist Eric Hoel are alarmed by the combination of distorted AI content and prolonged screen time’s potential impact on children.
“All around the nation there are toddlers plunked down in front of iPads being subjected to synthetic runoff,”
“All around the nation there are toddlers plunked down in front of iPads being subjected to synthetic runoff,” expressed the scientist on his Substack, The Intrinsic Perspective, describing the situation as dystopian.
YouTube informed Wired that its primary strategy to combat AI-generated content entails requiring creators to disclose altered or synthetic realistic content. Additionally, it relies on automated filters, human review, and user feedback to moderate the YouTube Kids platform.
However, numerous AI-generated kids’ videos evade detection through this self-reporting mechanism. Some experts question the efficacy of this self-regulation approach.
“Meaningful human oversight, especially of generative AI, is incredibly important,” emphasized Tracy Pizzo Frey, senior AI advisor at the media literacy nonprofit Common Sense Media. “That responsibility shouldn’t rest solely on families’ shoulders.”
This is where parents need to be proactive
This is a very concerning issue. AI-generated videos are becoming increasingly common, and they can be very difficult to distinguish from human-generated videos. This is especially troubling when it comes to children’s videos, as young children are more likely to be influenced by what they see and hear.
I’m not sure what to think about this. On the one hand, I can see how AI-generated videos could be harmful to children. On the other hand, I also think that AI has the potential to be used to create educational and entertaining content for children. Double edge effect…
I think it’s important to remember that not all AI-generated videos are created equal. Some AI-generated videos are very high quality and can be just as educational and entertaining as human-generated videos. However, other AI-generated videos are low quality and may not be appropriate for children.
Unfortunately, the low quality ones are more and easily accessible to these kids.
I think parents need to be aware of the potential risks of AI-generated videos. They should talk to their children about what they are watching and make sure that they are only watching videos that are appropriate for their age and development.
Talking alone won’t help. Kids are just kids. They need close monitoring.
I think YouTube needs to do more to regulate these videos. They should create a strict monitoring algorithm to filter these contents. Parents frequently check what their kids are watching. and also time there youtube time.
I think it’s important for parents to be media literate. They need to be able to identify ai-generated videos and they need to know how to talk to their children about the potential risks of these videos.
They are watching Children of the corn on youtube.
I think this is a complex issue with no easy answers. I think it’s important for parents, educators, and policymakers to work together to find ways to protect children from the potential harms of ai-generated videos while also allowing them to benefit from the potential benefits of this technology.