Snapchat’s My AI: The Chatbot in Your Child’s DMs, Explained for Parents

Is it just me, or does it feel like every time you turn around, there’s another new instance of AI? Snapchat has jumped on the bandwagon with its My AI feature, a chatbot embedded in users’ DMs. This begs the question: Is My AI on Snapchat safe for kids? 

Snapchat’s My AI chatbot may seem fun and harmless, but it’s not safe for kids. While it can provide homework help or movie suggestions, the risks — including inappropriate responses, dependency, and privacy concerns — make My AI a poor choice for children.

This article will go over what My AI is, how your child might use it, the risks, and how to talk to your child about it. 

What is Snapchat’s My AI?

My AI is Snapchat’s AI chatbot. It’s powered by large language models from Open AI, Gemini, and Google, and customized for Snapchat. 

The chatbot can be found in Snapchat’s chat feature. It talks in a conversational format, responding to users’ questions and prompts. 

How do kids use Snapchat’s My AI? 

Kids use Snapchat’s My AI in many of the same ways they do other AI companions. Specifically: 

• Combatting loneliness, particularly among teens who feel lonely
• Having access to an empathetic and validating companion
• Combatting boredom
• Seeking homework help
• Finding recommendations for movies, music, and other forms of media

Risks of Snapchat’s My AI for kids

Snapchat has specific safety enhancements and controls for My AI. For example, if your child talks about things like self-harm, My AI will recommend safety resources, and it will block results for questions and prompts related to drugs. Snapchat also recently expanded parental controls for AI. 

Despite these measures, My AI still poses notable risks for kids:

• Targeted ads. Snapchat targets ads to your child based on the content of their My AI chats. 
• Chats are saved (and used). Snapchat saves all content shared with its AI bot. Users cannot opt out of this and must manually delete each chat. After deleting a chat, the content could remain on Snapchat’s servers for up to 30 days. 
• Chats used for training. All those chats that My AI is saving are used to train Snapchat’s AI model. 
• Dependency. AI companions stimulate the brain’s reward pathways, potentially leading to dependency and emotional attachment.
• Inappropriate responses. Despite safety enhancements, media watchdogs have reported inappropriate and potentially dangerous responses in conversations with child accounts.
• Social withdrawal. Excessive use of AI companions reduces the time teens spend on genuine, human interactions.
• Unhealthy attitudes toward relationships. Because conversations with AI lack the boundaries that human relationships have (and natural consequences for breaking those boundaries), kids who use chatbots for companionship may develop unhealthy attitudes about consent and mutual respect. 

Is My AI on Snapchat safe for kids?

Nonprofit media watchdog Common Sense Media deemed AI companions unsafe for users under the age of 18. Additionally, numerous lawsuits have been filed alleging serious safety issues for children using chatbot companions. 

While Snapchat has taken more measures than some companies, the risk simply isn’t worth it: Snapchat’s My AI isn’t safe for kids. 

How can I keep my child safe from Snapchat’s My AI?

Here’s what you can do to limit your child’s risk: 

• Disable My AI. The safest way to keep your child safe from My AI is to disable it on their account using the Family Center. Go to My AI under Recent Conversations, then use the toggle to disable it. Your child will still be able to send messages to the AI, but it won’t respond.
• Limit their use. To combat the risk of dependency, set guidelines on how much your child can use Snapchat (and other AI apps). 
• Monitor their use. BrightCanary monitors everything your child types, giving you insight into how they use chatbot companions like My AI. 

How to talk to kids about Snapchat’s My AI

If you decide to let your child use My AI, it’s important to guide them to use it more safely. 

First, discuss the risks. Explain that AI conversations aren’t always accurate, and they aren’t a replacement for talking to a real person. Your child should know not to take advice from an AI.

Empower your child to:

• Think critically about the information My AI gives them. 
• Seek human support for emotional and mental health issues. 
• Learn to spot signs of dependency. 
• Alert a trusted adult if any part of an AI chat makes them feel uncomfortable. 

FAQ

What is My AI on Snapchat?

My AI is Snapchat’s built-in chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to respond to users’ questions and prompts inside the app’s chat feature. It can suggest movies, answer trivia, or help with homework, but it’s also designed to collect data for targeted ads and language learning.

How do kids use My AI?

Kids often turn to My AI for entertainment, companionship, or quick answers. They might use it to:

• Get homework help or writing suggestions
• Ask for recommendations (music, movies, restaurants)
• Combat boredom with casual chats
• Ease loneliness by treating My AI like a friend

What are the risks of My AI for kids?

Despite safety updates, My AI poses risks for children, including unsafe or misleading advice and targeted ads based on the content of their chats. 

Is My AI on Snapchat safe for kids?

No. Experts, including Common Sense Media, recommend against AI chatbots for users under 18. The potential for unsafe responses, loss of privacy, and dependency outweighs any benefits.

How can parents disable or monitor My AI?

Parents can reduce risks in two ways:

1. Disable My AI: Set up Snapchat Family Center. Then, go to My AI under your teen’s recent conversations and disable it.
2. Monitor activity: Use parental monitoring tools like BrightCanary, which scans what your child types on their iPhone — including interactions with AI bots — and alerts you to red flags.

Final word 

There are many reasons kids are drawn to Snapchat’s My AI feature. But the risks don’t outweigh the benefits. Snapchat’s My AI feature isn’t a safe choice for kids and should be disabled using parental controls. If parents choose to let their kids use it, other measures should be taken to protect their safety. 

BrightCanary helps parents monitor their children on the apps they use the most, including conversations with Snapchat’s My AI. Download today to get started for free.