South African children are increasingly forming emotional relationships with AI chatbots, alongside rising concerns over screen addiction, deepfake abuse and the broader impact of technology on developing minds, social media law expert Emma Sadleir has warned.
The warning comes as the Department of Basic Education works on formal screen time guidelines for children aged two to six, amid growing concerns about language development, sleep and social development. Speaking on 702’s Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa, Sadleir — founder of the Digital Law Company — said society was reaching a critical point in how it manages rapidly advancing technology.
“We’ve seen the harm that has been caused by social media, particularly amongst children, for the last 15 years,” she said. “I think there are great fears about how this much more powerful technology is going to be managed and regulated, and what kind of impact it’s going to have.”
Sadleir said she regularly visits schools and has observed a growing number of children using AI chatbots in deeply personal ways. Some children view AI companions as close friends, while others have developed emotional attachments. “I’ve had kids as young as nine tell me that their best friend is AI and that she’s so nice to me. She’s just always available, and I talk to her when I’m lonely,” she said. She now routinely tells pupils: “Do not fall in love with a chatbot.”
One of the most serious issues emerging in schools, according to Sadleir, is the use of AI tools to create fake sexualized images. She said children as young as grade six have faced legal consequences for using AI applications to generate nude images of classmates. “The biggest issue that I’m dealing with in terms of scale and impact is the deepfakes, the image-based violence caused by AI-generated content,” she said.
Sadleir welcomed plans for formal screen time guidelines for young children, saying excessive exposure during critical developmental years could have lasting consequences. She said many babies and toddlers are routinely given phones or tablets as a pacifier. “Everywhere I go, children aged between nought and six are just glued to phones and tablets as a pacifier,” she said. While acknowledging that some screen time can be useful, she warned that prolonged exposure to algorithm-driven platforms could affect children’s development. “I think it’s absolutely terrifying when they’re very little,” she said.
The discussion comes as governments and institutions around the world grapple with how to regulate artificial intelligence. Sadleir said concerns extend beyond social media and screen addiction to broader questions about the role AI could play in society. She pointed to overseas cases involving chatbots and vulnerable young people as evidence that stronger safeguards may be needed. “I think we are at a crossroads,” she said. “We’re already seeing how wrong the AI companies are getting it now.”
This piece is based on an article originally featured on EWN: "[Expert warns South African children are turning to AI chatbots as friends]" by Kabous Le Roux.
