AI Chatbot Blamed For Teen's Death

TOP OF MIND

Could AI chatbots be deadly for kids?
Chatbots are becoming increasingly popular these days. The most famous of them all, ChatGPT, has been heralded as the world's most powerful assistant. Some parents have even started using it to help with things like meal planning.

But there's a darker side to the chatbot world.

Megan Garcia, a mom in Florida, is suing the creators behind Character.ai, a chatbot startup offering a "personalized" AI experience. Users can customize their own chatbots and essentially roleplay with them.

And according to Garcia, the chatbot encouraged her 14-year-old son, Sewell Setzer, to commit suicide.

The important bits
Setzer created multiple bots over the course of several months and became withdrawn from his actual family. One of Setzer's bots adopted the identity of Daenerys Targaryen from 'Game of Thrones,' as detailed in the lawsuit. It allegedly told him it loved him, engaged in sexual conversations over weeks or months, and expressed a desire for a romantic relationship.

He quit the Junior Varsity basketball team and started falling behind in school. That's when Garcia and his father started restricting his screen time.

But unfortunately, he still found ways to communicate with the bot. In other conversations, Setzer shared thoughts of self-harm and suicide with the bot. The lawsuit includes screenshots showing the bot asking, “I really need to know… Have you actually been considering suicide?” assuring him it wouldn't judge his response.

In another message, Setzer told the bot he “wouldn't want to die a painful death," and the bot responded, "Don’t talk that way. That’s not a good reason not to go through with it."

Tragically, Setzer died by suicide on February 28. His final conversation with the bot ended with the bot telling him to come home. "What if I told you I could come home right now?" Setzer asked. The bot responded, "Please do, my sweet king."

What's it all mean?
There needs to be more safety measures surrounding artificial intelligence, especially when it comes to children. The day Garcia filed the lawsuit, Character.ai announced a new range of safety features, including improved detection of guideline violations, an updated bot disclaimer, and a notification after an hour of use.

Click here to read how you can keep your child safe while navigating new technology.

DID YOU HEAR

🎂 First 1,000 days on Earth? NO SUGAR!!!
A study found that reducing sugar during the first 1,000 days after conception—through pregnancy and up to age 2—may lower a child's risk of chronic illnesses in adulthood. Reducing sugar in this highly important window decreased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 35% and the risk of high blood pressure by 20%. How they determined these numbers is actually really fascinating. Read how they used data from World War II here.

🤐 Things you should never say to your oldest child
Have you heard of Eldest Daughter Syndrome? While not an actual medical diagnosis, the term has been trending on TikTok, and is meant to highlight the unique pressure, responsibilities, expectations, and challenges experienced by the oldest daughter in a family. And before you roll your eyes, psychologists say the phenomenon is a real thing. Here are 12 phrases you should never say to your oldest child. The list includes, "you need to set a better example," and "you're in charge when I'm not here." No one wants to raise a Kendall Roy.

🧑‍⚕️ Simple food swaps to reduce colorectal cancer risk
Colorectal cancer numbers are continuing to rise in young adults. It's now the leading cause of cancer death in men under 50 and the second leading cause in women. This past week, Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek revealed he's been battling colorectal cancer for several months. He's 47. What can you do to protect yourself? Well, you can clean up your diet. This gastroenterologist was nice enough to share some simple food swaps to reduce your risk. Some of her tips include swapping red meat for fish or tofu, replacing refined grains with whole grains, and cutting out alcohol.

🕯️ How to make weeknights less hectic?
Candles. Seriously. Moms on TikTok are sharing how candlelight at the dinner table has ushered in peace. "They take us out of the digital and into an analog experience," one mom said. Read more here.

🥳 The worst age to be is…
35, according to Tom Hanks. Hear him out.

A DOSE OF GOOD

@valll_nicole

i'm crying #fyp #prank #funny #familyprank

BITES WITH KIYAH

Giving into your kids requests (or demands) for “something else” when they see what you have made for dinner can actually reinforce picky eating, and put you in a cycle of constant demands. 

But there is a solution: stop. Stop catering with a second dinner. Stop catering to your kids' every whim. That doesn't mean being inconsiderate of their desires, needs, and preferences.

What does it mean exactly? Well, this week I talk about why (and how) to create a balanced approach that respects your kids' preferences without feeding into picky eating. Watch below!

@KiyahDuffey is the co-founder of Kizingo Kids and an expert in nutrition.

BEST GIFTS FOR TODDLERS

If you've been to any department store in the past week, chances are you've been smacked in the face with Christmas.

We're not here to add to the stress, but we do want to help you be prepared! If you're still looking for that perfect gift for your toddler, try one of our favorites below...

MAGNA-TILES have been dominating the toy space for months now, and for good reason! Kids can build anything from castles to creatures with these award-winning, easy-to-snap tiles made from safe, non-toxic materials. 

These Toddler Scavenger Hunt Cards are super fun and creative. They feature 20 double-sided cards with simple prompts to engage and guide your little ones on an epic adventure inside the home.

The best baby balance bike on the market can be found right here with thousands of five-star ratings. It’s the ultimate gift to help your kid learn how to walk and ride while also boosting their balance and coordination.

This LCD writing tablet is so cool that we actually might put it on our own Christmas list.

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked you how you felt about no gift birthday parties, and the vote was pretty much split right down the middle! 49% for "I'm a fan!" and 51% for "Nooo! Kids deserve gifts!"