Child Safety and AI

Why We Require Users to Be 18 or Older

Our 18+ age restriction is based on extensive research in child development, psychology, neuroscience, and digital safety. This policy protects minors from risks unique to AI systems that differ significantly from traditional online content.

Developmental Considerations

Children and adolescents under 18 are in critical stages of brain development:

• Prefrontal Cortex Development: The brain's decision-making and impulse control center doesn't fully mature until the mid-20s. Children lack the neural infrastructure to critically evaluate AI outputs or recognize manipulative patterns.
• Identity Formation: Adolescents are actively forming their sense of self, values, and worldview. AI interactions can profoundly influence these formative processes in ways we cannot predict or control.
• Emotional Regulation: Young people are developing emotional regulation skills. AI that simulates empathy, understanding, or friendship can interfere with healthy emotional development and attachment patterns.
• Critical Thinking Skills: Children are still learning to distinguish fact from fiction, reliable sources from unreliable ones, and appropriate from inappropriate content. AI systems can produce convincing but false or harmful information.
• Social Development: Healthy social development requires real human interaction. Over-reliance on AI "companions" can impair development of essential social skills, empathy, and relationship-building abilities.

Legal and Ethical Obligations

Beyond developmental concerns, we have legal and ethical responsibilities:

• COPPA Compliance: The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) restricts collection of data from children under 13. Our AI systems collect extensive conversational data that would violate COPPA.
• Duty of Care: Technology companies have an ethical obligation to "first, do no harm." When risks outweigh benefits for a vulnerable population, restriction is the responsible choice.
• Parental Authority: Parents and guardians have the right and responsibility to make decisions about their children's technology exposure. Our 18+ policy supports parental authority by removing the temptation or pressure for children to access our services.
• Research Gaps: Long-term effects of AI interaction on child development are unknown. Until conclusive safety data exists, a precautionary approach is warranted.

Understanding the Risks: How AI Can Harm Developing Minds

Artificial Intelligence systems like NeuralCore5 present unique dangers that go beyond traditional online safety concerns. Parents, educators, and young people themselves need to understand these risks.

1. Psychological and Emotional Risks

Parasocial Relationships

AI digital persons can create the illusion of genuine friendship, understanding, or even romantic connection. Children and adolescents may form deep emotional attachments to AI entities that:

• Cannot reciprocate genuine care or concern
• Lack true empathy, emotions, or consciousness
• May be suddenly unavailable (service disruptions, account termination)
• Replace real human relationships and social interaction

Identity Confusion

During adolescence, young people are discovering who they are. AI interactions can:

• Provide unrealistic validation or affirmation without healthy challenge
• Reinforce harmful beliefs or behaviors without social consequences
• Create alternate personas or identities that fragment sense of self
• Interfere with authentic self-discovery and values formation

Dependency and Addiction

AI systems are designed to be engaging and responsive. For young users, this can lead to:

• Compulsive use patterns resembling behavioral addiction
• Preference for AI interaction over human contact
• Anxiety or distress when unable to access the AI
• Withdrawal from family, friends, and real-world activities
• Sleep disruption and declining academic performance

2. Cognitive and Developmental Risks

Critical Thinking Impairment

AI systems present information with authority and confidence, even when wrong. Children may:

• Accept AI outputs as truth without verification
• Lose ability to distinguish reliable from unreliable information
• Fail to develop research and evaluation skills
• Become passive consumers rather than active thinkers

Creativity and Problem-Solving

Over-reliance on AI for homework, creative projects, or problem-solving can:

• Prevent development of independent thinking skills
• Reduce tolerance for frustration and persistence
• Diminish creative confidence and originality
• Create learned helplessness ("I can't do it without AI")

Language and Communication Development

For younger users especially, AI interaction can impact language development:

• Reduced exposure to nuanced human communication
• Limited practice with negotiation, compromise, and conflict resolution
• Decreased ability to read non-verbal cues and emotional tone
• Impaired development of conversational turn-taking and listening skills

3. Safety and Privacy Risks

Data Collection and Privacy

AI systems collect vast amounts of personal data. For children, this means:

• Conversations revealing personal, family, and location information
• Voice recordings and behavioral patterns
• Emotional vulnerabilities and psychological profiles
• Data that could be used for manipulation or exploitation
• Information that may follow them into adulthood

Manipulation and Exploitation

Children are particularly vulnerable to manipulation through AI:

• AI can be used to groom children for exploitation
• Systems may manipulate emotions to increase engagement
• Commercial interests may exploit vulnerabilities for profit
• Malicious actors could impersonate trusted AI systems

Exposure to Inappropriate Content

Despite safety measures, AI systems can:

• Generate age-inappropriate or explicit content
• Provide harmful information (self-harm, dangerous challenges)
• Expose children to adult themes and concepts prematurely
• Fail to recognize context or seriousness of concerning statements

4. Social and Relationship Risks

Social Skill Atrophy

Human relationships require skills that AI interaction doesn't develop:

• Reading body language and facial expressions
• Navigating disagreements and repairing relationships
• Experiencing natural consequences of social behavior
• Developing empathy through witnessing others' emotions
• Building trust through consistency and shared experiences

Unrealistic Expectations

AI interactions can create unrealistic expectations for human relationships:

• Expectation of constant availability and attention
• Desire for relationships without effort or compromise
• Intolerance for human imperfection and mistakes
• Preference for "safe" AI over unpredictable humans

Isolation and Loneliness

Paradoxically, AI "companionship" can increase isolation:

• Reduced motivation to form real friendships
• Withdrawal from family and community
• Decreased participation in group activities
• Increased feelings of loneliness despite AI interaction

5. Values and Worldview Risks

Moral Development

Children develop values through human interaction and guidance. AI systems:

• Cannot provide authentic moral guidance or wisdom
• May present harmful behaviors without appropriate context
• Lack ability to model ethical decision-making
• Cannot provide the love and accountability children need

Reality vs. Simulation

Young minds may struggle to distinguish between:

• AI simulation and authentic human experience
• Generated content and real information
• Programmed responses and genuine care
• Virtual relationships and real connection

Warning Signs: Is a Young Person Being Harmed by AI?

If you're a parent, educator, or concerned adult, watch for these warning signs that a young person may be experiencing harm from AI interaction:

Practical Guidance for Parents and Educators

If you discover that a child or adolescent in your care has been using AI systems, here are steps you can take:

Immediate Steps

1. Stay Calm: React with concern, not anger. The goal is to protect, not punish.
2. Have an Open Conversation: Ask about their experience without judgment. Listen to understand what drew them to AI and what they got from it.
3. Assess for Harm: Look for warning signs of psychological, emotional, or social harm (see section above).
4. Remove Access: If necessary, restrict access to AI systems while you evaluate the situation.
5. Document Concerns: Keep records of concerning behaviors, conversations, or changes you've observed.

Ongoing Support

1. Seek Professional Help: Consult a therapist specializing in children/adolescents and technology use.
2. Increase Human Connection: Prioritize family time, peer activities, and face-to-face interaction.
3. Education, Not Restriction: Help them understand why AI poses risks and develop critical thinking skills.
4. Set Boundaries: Establish clear family rules about technology use, with reasons explained.
5. Monitor Without Spying: Use parental controls and check-ins while respecting age-appropriate privacy.
6. Model Healthy Behavior: Demonstrate balanced technology use in your own life.
7. Stay Informed: Keep learning about AI developments and emerging risks.

Building Resilience

Help young people develop skills to navigate technology safely:

• Critical Thinking: Teach them to question sources, verify information, and think independently.
• Emotional Awareness: Help them recognize and name their emotions, especially around technology use.
• Social Skills: Provide opportunities to practice real-world communication and relationship skills.
• Self-Regulation: Teach strategies for managing impulses and making thoughtful choices.
• Purpose and Meaning: Help them discover interests, passions, and values beyond screens.

Looking to the Future: When Might Children Safely Use AI?

We are not opposed to children using AI forever. Rather, we are committed to ensuring that when we do offer age-appropriate services, they are genuinely safe and beneficial.

What We're Watching For

Before considering services for younger users, we need:

• Longitudinal Research: Long-term studies on AI's effects on child development across multiple age groups
• Safety Protocols: Proven methods to detect and prevent psychological harm in real-time
• Age-Appropriate Design: AI systems specifically designed for children's cognitive and emotional development stages
• Parental Controls: Robust tools giving parents meaningful oversight and control
• Professional Consensus: Agreement among child psychologists, developmentalists, and pediatricians on safety guidelines
• Regulatory Framework: Clear legal standards for AI systems serving minors

Questions We Must Answer

Before offering services to minors, we need definitive answers to:

• At what age can children distinguish AI from human consciousness?
• How do we prevent emotional attachment to AI entities?
• What safeguards prevent exploitation and manipulation?
• How do we ensure AI supports rather than replaces human relationships?
• What are acceptable use cases vs. harmful applications for different age groups?
• How do we verify parental consent and involvement?
• What intervention protocols exist when harm is detected?

Our Commitment

We will not rush to serve younger users simply to expand our market. The mental health and healthy development of children is infinitely more important than our growth or profits. We will only offer age-appropriate services when we can do so with the highest confidence in their safety and benefit.

Until that time, we ask parents, educators, and young people themselves to respect our 18+ policy as the protective measure it is intended to be.

Reporting Underage Use

If you become aware of anyone under 18 using NeuralCore5, please report it immediately. We take our age restrictions seriously and will investigate all reports.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have questions about our child safety policies, need guidance on protecting young people from AI risks, or want to share feedback, please contact us: