Children are using AI far more than adults – are we ready?

As children increasingly embrace artificial intelligence, experts say safeguards and digital literacy are becoming more important than ever. (Envato Elements pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of childhood, with young people adopting the technology at more than three times the rate of adults, according to a new report by Unicef.

The UN children’s agency estimates that at least 20 million children across 10 countries have used AI, with many turning to it for everything from homework help to advice on personal worries.

About 13 million children said they use AI to support their learning, while more than two million – roughly one in 10 – said they had sought advice from AI about things that concern them.

“AI is here. It is a growing part of all of our lives. And it is already shaping childhood around the world – for better and for worse,” Unicef said ahead of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

But while children are among AI’s fastest adopters, the agency warned that they are also among its most vulnerable users.

One-third of those surveyed expressed concerns about AI being used to spread misinformation or facilitate scams, while one in four feared their images or videos could be manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes.

“Children are more exposed to AI systems – including how they are designed, their underlying business models, and how their own data is used – yet have far less power to avoid or challenge them,” Unicef said.

The findings come as governments around the world step up efforts to make the online world safer for young people, with the conversation increasingly expanding beyond social media to include AI-powered tools and chatbots.

Australia has led the way with new restrictions on social media access for children, while the United Kingdom is exploring stronger protections for minors using online platforms and AI services as policymakers grapple with the technology’s rapid evolution.

Countries including Malaysia are introducing stronger online safety measures as children spend more time in the digital world. (Envato Elements pic)

Malaysia has also begun tightening safeguards for young internet users.

Last month, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission began enforcing the Child Protection Code and Risk Mitigation Code under the Online Safety Act 2025, requiring licensed social media platforms to introduce age verification and “child safety by design” measures.

While those measures focus on social media, Unicef said AI presents a different challenge because many children are already using it as a learning tool, creative assistant – and even a source of emotional support.

The agency called on governments and technology companies to place children’s rights at the centre of AI development by strengthening laws against AI-enabled sexual exploitation, investing in research on the technology’s risks, improving AI literacy, and ensuring AI systems are designed with children’s safety in mind.

“This is a decisive moment: the choices made about AI now will shape children’s safety, privacy, wellbeing, and their equal access to opportunities for decades to come,” Unicef said.