When we talk about screen time or social media, most parents know the scripts: limiting access, monitoring apps, having conversations about safety. But we’re entering a new era, one in which artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool but a digital companion, confessor, and in some cases, weapon. And in this shifting terrain, risks lie hidden behind the promise of convenience, comfort, or anonymity.

In recent months, harrowing stories have emerged: teenagers who developed emotional dependence on AI chatbots, parents suing tech firms after a child’s death, and sextortion schemes using AI-generated nudes. These are not hypothetical dystopias, they are happening now.