AI May Replicate Social Media's Harmful Legacy for a New Generation

The column likens the unchecked spread of social media to a looming AI crisis, noting that both technologies can deliver benefits and pose severe risks, especially to youth. It highlights how AI could serve as a tutor, therapist, or confidant, while simultaneously harvesting personal details and fostering dependence. The author points to Meta's recent settlement over addictive platforms as a cautionary example and argues that AI developers cannot claim ignorance, given the social media experience.

Recommendations include parental awareness, mandatory disclosure when children interact with machines, strict limits on personal data collection, and industry-wide standards for child-focused AI. The piece also contrasts China's aggressive AI strategy with the United States' fragmented, slow-moving regulatory approach, urging decisive action before the technology outpaces policy.