Social media law expert Emma Sadleir has warned that South African children are increasingly forming emotional bonds with AI chatbots, amid growing concerns over screen addiction, deepfake abuse and the wider impact of technology on developing brains.
The warning comes as the Department of Basic Education is working 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, Sadler, founder of the digital law company, said society is reaching a tipping point in how it manages rapidly advancing technology.
“We have seen the harm caused by social media for the last 15 years, especially among children,” he said. “I think there's a lot of fear about how this 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 noticed that an increasing number of children are using AI chatbots in deeply personalized ways. Some children view AI companions as close friends, while others have developed emotional attachments. “My nine-year-old tells me her best friend is an AI and she's very good to me. She's always available, and I talk to her whenever I'm alone,” she said. She now regularly tells students: “Don't fall in love with the chatbot.”
According to Sadleir, one of the most serious issues emerging in schools is the use of AI tools to create fake sexual images. He said children as young as six have faced legal consequences for using AI applications to create nude photos of classmates. “The biggest issue I'm tackling in terms of scale and impact is image-based violence caused by deepfakes, AI-generated content,” she said.
Sadleir welcomed plans for formal screen time guidelines for young children, saying that excessive exposure during critical developmental years could have lasting consequences. Many infants and young children are routinely given phones or tablets as pacifiers, she said. “Wherever I go, there are children ages zero to six glued to their phones and tablets like pacifiers,” she said. While acknowledging that some screen time can be useful, he warned that prolonged exposure to algorithm-driven platforms could impact children's development. “I think it's absolutely scary when they're so 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 of AI in society. He pointed to foreign cases involving chatbots and vulnerable youth as evidence that stronger safeguards may be needed. “I think we're at a crossroads,” he said. “We are already seeing how much AI companies are getting it wrong 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.