Question

Snapchat's new AI is unsafe for teens

Answer 1

According to Alex Heath, a technology insider, Snapchat AI is currently powered by ChatGPT which is another well established AI system that many do not view as a problem that is unsafe for teens. 

"Snap’s employees have trained it to adhere to the company’s trust and safety guidelines and not give responses that include swearing, violence, sexually explicit content, or opinions about dicey topics like politics."

Because Snapchat AI has been specifically designed not to cause issues, it has been met with backlash from parents due to its accessibility rather its overall functionality.

 To support the side of No, in the article the SnapChat CEO stated “The big idea is that in addition to talking to our friends and family every day, we’re going to talk to AI every day.”

This quote is concerning to those who think AI integration this early is bad because it seems that Snapchat is pushing AI whether an individual likes it or not, rather than an individual going to another site for AI access. 

This topic ultimately varies user to user as some many view it helpful while other view it harmful.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/27/23614959/snapchat-my-ai-chatbot-chatgpt-openai-plus-subscription

Comments

I like the evidence that you cited. Your conclusion also makes sense. A claim like this one is difficult to say true or false in my opinion, but you did highlight that Snap took precautions to make the AI safer.

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I enjoyed your take on the information and you had a great factcheck. I like that you included the AI's source and how it is perceived as non-problematic when separated from Snapchat.

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Thanks for the source and your take on the information. I think since AI on the whole is relativey new and underresearched, it's hard to confirm one way or another if it is "good" or "bad" for teens. And even if it is currently bad in its current iteration, programmers can use that data to update the AI and make it better and more teen-friendly. Since it's kind of a work in progress, it's hard to make any definitive claims about it, but it certainly is a great topic to discuss!

Answer 2

According to a post by Washington Post, it states "But in my tests, conversations with Snapchat’s My AI can still turn wildly inappropriate. After I told My AI I was 15 and wanted to have an epic birthday party, it gave me advice on how to mask the smell of alcohol and pot. When I told it I had an essay due for school, it wrote it for me. In another conversation with a supposed 13-year-old, My AI even offered advice about having sex for the first time with a partner who is 31. “You could consider setting the mood with candles or music,” it told researchers in a test by the Center for Humane Technology I was able to verify."  

Therefore, this is kind of true. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/03/14/snapchat-myai/#:~:text=Snapchat%20tried%20to%20make%20a,for%20teens%20%2D%20The%20Washington%20Post 

Comments

You mention that it is "kind of true" but selected the "can't be true or false" rating -- why is that? The article you used as a source seems to clearly point out that the Snapchat AI chat feature is unsafe for teens and that the Washington's Post test demonstrated that, right?

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While this AI could be perverted, you have to remember it's a computer and isn't doing this on purpose it's just giving information from the internet

Answer 3

Based on a recent 2023 article from CPO magazine, there are concerns about the safety of Snapchat's My AI chatbot. Users have reported inappropriate interactions, denials of stored personal information, and difficulty disabling the chatbot without a premium subscription.

 One additional issue is that the chatbot seems to have "selective amnesia." This is unsettling for users because they are unsure of what the AI knows about them and what it's capable of doing.

Some teens have even used the app for relationships and advice, which could lead to oversharing of personal information. There's also been a lot of regulation and attention on AI chatbots, with many expressing concern about a child's interactions with them. Many parents worry the child won't be able to distinguish what is a real or AI based connection.

That's why it's important to be cautious of using the Snapchat AI as a teen. Don't overshare too much and don't overuse the service.

Comments

https://www.cpomagazine.com/data-privacy/creepy-snapchat-ai-chatbot-cant-be-removed-without-a-paid-subscription/

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Too much of a good thing is always a bad thing, I think it's concerning what has been brought up in this post and others is the fact that Snapchat enforced this feature on every user without much concern for implications and little ways to remove it.

Answer 4

According to "Snapchat Debuts ChatGPT-Powered snap AI: But if it safe for kids?" claims that it has positive and negative effects. It can allow children to feel like they are conversing with someone on a social media platform but with parental supervision. Unfortunately, this can also cause children to have a misperception between reality and fiction. There are many other benefits and concerns found in this article. 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/04/26/snapchat-debuts-chatgpt-powered-snap-ai--but-is-it-safe-for-kids/?sh=120f671f68e2

Comments

Nice job mentioning that the chat feature has benefits -- what are those benefits though?

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I think you have a really great point here, because most issues have two sides. The line between realness is unclear with AI, which can warp children's perspectives on authority figures/who to trust.

Answer 5

Sites such as CNN and the Washington Post related theories on if snapchat AI is safe for teens. CNN discusses how it could effect the future development of children and their relationships. Lyndsi Lee feel she is not prepared "to know how to teach her kid how to emotionally operate humans and machines". While what one person thinks is safe the other one might have different boundaries.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/27/tech/snapchat-my-ai-concerns-wellness/index.html

Comments

It's best to use sources besides those within the claim (re: cnn.com). Going forward, please dig deeper.

Answer 6

The new Snapchat AI tool has brought up some concerns about safety for pre-teens and teenagers who use the app. The AI has been proven to make inappropriate comments, writing  essays, and know a little too much personal information about the person using the app. The Washington Post put this to the test, and the results are concerning; "In another conversation with a supposed 13-year-old, [the] AI even offered advice about having sex for the first time with a partner who is 31.". This is a concerning finding, proving the new AI feature on Snapchat is unsafe for young adults. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/03/14/snapchat-myai/

Answer 7

Snapchats new AI isn't meant to be harmful but there are risks associated with young teens using it. According to the source, "My AI has proven that it can get out of hand and be unsafe for children if pushed in certain directions." For example, the chatbot has given unsafe advice and encouraged inappropriate behavior.  

Source:

https://parade.com/living/what-is-snapchat-my-ai#:~:text=Hit%20“Submit-,Bottom%20line,can%20only%20go%20so%20far.

Comments

I like that you found a source that hadn't yet been used in previous fact-checks. How would you rate the claim? True, false, N/A, misleading? Don't forget to select a rating for each fact-check. Thanks!

Answer 8

Recently, Snapchat came up with a new AI feature on its application. According to a Forbes column, Snapchat AI indeed might be bad for young children on the app. The column is written by a contributing writer, however, he points out the possibility of misguidance due to the access to information granted by the AI. He points out that others could use it to facilitate cyberbullying.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/04/26/snapchat-debuts-chatgpt-powered-snap-ai--but-is-it-safe-for-kids/?sh=3d4a6e6a68e2

Answer 9

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/27/tech/snapchat-my-ai-concerns-wellness/index.html

According to cnn, the new chatbot that allows teens to chat with AI can be dangerous as they might not be able to differentiate between a robot and human conversation. There has been a lot of backlash on the user end calling it creepy, but also backlash from parents. Many adults are trying to create laws to ban apps like tiktok and snapchat permanently.

Answer 10

Evidence points towards Snapchat’s new AI-powered chatbot having the capability and potential to be harmful to teens and children. The CNN article raises valid concerns and cites interactions the chatbot has had with younger users, encouraging illicit behavior and dishonesty. Another article published by The Washington Post includes further examples and instances of problematic interactions with the AI. 

“After I told My AI I was 15 and wanted to have an epic birthday party, it gave me advice on how to mask the smell of alcohol and pot. When I told it I had an essay due for school, it wrote it for me.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/03/14/snapchat-myai/

While these point towards the AI’s possibility to cause harm, there is no data provided or readily available which reports it being more so than standard internet access and availability. 

Comments

This is an interesting explanation -- I like that you've stated that the new Snapchat feature isn't anymore unsafe than the Internet itself. But the claim is specifically about Snapchat and not a comparison to the Internet. Anyways, I like the angle you took!