It sounds like something out of a dystopian novel: apps that let children form romantic and emotional relationships with artificial intelligence. And yet, this is the reality we now face. AI “companions,” designed to act as boyfriends, girlfriends, or emotional partners, are no longer just science fiction. Apps such as Replika, Character.AI, and even influencer-inspired…
It sounds like something out of a dystopian novel: apps that let children form romantic and emotional relationships with artificial intelligence. And yet, this is the reality we now face. AI “companions,” designed to act as boyfriends, girlfriends, or emotional partners, are no longer just science fiction. Apps such as Replika, Character.AI, and even influencer-inspired […]
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What Is Sextortion? Sextortion is the practice of extorting money or sexual favours from someone by threatening to reveal intimate images or videos. For children, it often begins with an adult pretending to be a peer online, persuading them to share compromising images, then threatening to expose those images unless money or further material is […]
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Children are online more than ever before. Ofcom’s Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report (2024) found that 97% of children aged 3–17 went online last year, with nearly half of 8–17-year-olds owning their own smartphone. But many parents don’t know what apps their children are using, or the dangers these platforms can pose. […]
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