This week: What Teens Are Using Right Now

👋 Hey, welcome back to AI Parenting Guide!

Last weekend, my 15-year-old asked if an AI app could make his maths homework “look more human.” I wasn’t sure whether to be impressed or start panicking.

Turns out, teens are using AI apps in ways we never imagined — for school, creativity, even emotional support. Some are helpful. Some are sketchy. And many are flying under parents’ radar.

📱 What Teens Are Using Right Now

Here are some popular AI apps teens are using — often daily:

• ChatGPT – Ask questions, write essays, get explanations, or just experiment

• Google Gemini – Similar to ChatGPT, but built into Google apps and phones

• Notion AI – Helps write essays, brainstorm, summarize class notes

• Picsart AI Tools – For editing selfies, creating AI avatars, or fun filters

• Character.AI – Teens can chat with AI “characters” who feel like influencers or fictional friends

• Replika – AI chatbot that acts like a friend or emotional support (⚠️ not age-appropriate for teens)

• You.com – Combines AI writing and search in one place; some students use it to “research faster”

• Caktus AI – A tool made for students that writes essays, solves math problems, and more (⚠️ often used to cheat)

⚠️ What to Watch For

• Some apps collect a lot of personal data

• Chat-based tools can feel “real” — a risk when kids start trusting them emotionally

• AI-generated content can be biased, wrong, or sound “too perfect” to be a teen’s own work

• Not all tools are designed with child safety or privacy in mind

✅ What You Can Do

• Try these apps together — talk about the answers they give and how they “think”

• Help kids tell the difference between learning tools and shortcuts

• Ask open-ended questions: “How did it help you?” or “What part was yours?”

• Focus on privacy settings, data use, and clear boundaries at home

💬 Conversation Starters

• “Would you let an AI app help you on a test?”

• “What’s something an AI told you that didn’t make sense?”

• “Why do you think some apps feel more trustworthy than others?”

💼 How AI Is Changing Jobs

🟢 Safe Job: Nurse or Healthcare Support Worker
This work depends on real empathy and hands-on care. AI can support, but not replace, that human connection.

⚠️ At-Risk Job: Graphic Designer (Basic)
AI can now create social media graphics, logos, and layouts instantly. Designers focused on custom or high-end work are still valuable — but the basic stuff? AI’s already doing it.

🧰 Resource of the Week

Book: AI for Absolute Beginners by Oliver Theobald
A friendly, no-jargon intro to what AI is, how it works, and why it matters. Great for curious parents.

🔜 Coming Next Week

AI in the Classroom: How Schools Are Using It (and What They’re Not Teaching)
From tools teachers love to the lessons students still aren’t getting — we’ll cover what parents should know.

📚 Resource of the Week: The Art of Screen Time by Anya Kamenetz

Struggling to find the right balance between screens and real-life moments? The Art of Screen Time offers evidence-based, practical strategies to help your family navigate tech use without the guilt. Unlike heavier reads on digital citizenship, Kamenetz keeps it light and relatable, answering the big question: "How much tech is okay?" Perfect for parents who want a flexible, research-backed approach to raising kids in a digital world.

👉 Visit Anya’s website for more..

P.S. Want more? Reply to this email with your biggest screen-time challenge—we might feature tips in a future issue!