Episode summary

 

This episode features Maryam Ehsani, founder and CEO of Child Safe ME, board member of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, and a leading voice on child protection and safeguarding. With more than 15 years of experience in the field, Maryam has dedicated her career to making the digital world safer for children.

 

 

Key Learnings

 

• Why AI matters for child protection

  Maryam explains that AI is not just a trend — it’s already reshaping how children learn, play, and communicate. This creates both opportunities and risks that parents, educators, and policymakers cannot ignore.

• The positive side

  AI can personalize education, adapt lessons to children’s needs, and even help detect when a child is tired or disengaged. It also supports online safety by flagging harmful conversations or inappropriate websites to parents and teachers.

• The risks are real

  Deepfakes, cyberbullying, and voice replication are major threats. Innocent images shared online can be misused. And when children trust chatbots for advice, they may receive guidance that conflicts with parental values.

• Family first — then schools and governments

  Safeguarding starts at home. Parents must nurture open conversations so children feel safe to share what they see online. Schools and teachers also need training — not just in tools, but in boundaries, critical thinking, and safe communication. Governments, like the UAE, are taking steps with mandatory AI courses, but proper training and age-appropriate materials remain essential.

• The role of tech companies

  Maryam insists that child protection must be a fixed agenda item for tech firms. Safeguarding cannot be an afterthought — it must be designed into platforms from the start.

• When to introduce AI to kids

  There’s no “one age fits all.” Every child is different. Introducing AI too early can overwhelm or confuse — the right timing depends on the child’s maturity, digital exposure, and context at home.

• A message to parents

  Digital literacy starts with you. If you fear AI, you cannot guide your child. Learn, unlearn, and adapt — because children will always be faster than us at adopting new tools.

• What gives hope

  Governments and law enforcement are already using AI to prevent child abuse online. For Maryam, this is proof that technology can protect — not just harm.

• Her dream measure

  That child safeguarding becomes everyone’s responsibility — not only experts. If policymakers enforce protection on tech platforms and every adult recognizes their role, half the work is done.

 

 

The Takeaway

 

AI in childhood is not just about screen time or new apps — it’s about protection, empowerment, and trust. Families, schools, governments, and tech companies all share the responsibility. As Maryam reminds us: to safeguard children, we must stay flexible, stay curious, and never stop adapting.

This summary is AI generated