Author Topic: Teen Interacting with Talkie.ai  (Read 2608 times)

yachi

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Teen Interacting with Talkie.ai
« on: February 09, 2025, 08:25:36 AM »
My teen (15F) has taken to chatting with AIs on this website.  I don't know much about it, but she tries to be secretive about what she's doing.  She isn't sharing funny responses they give with her siblings and shields her phone when she's on it.  I can use my router to block it, but I'm looking for advice on what she might be getting out of it.  She isn't great at making friends, so I'm a bit worried the interactions on this site are filling in a place where in the past she might have texted friends instead.

corgiegirl

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Re: Teen Interacting with Talkie.ai
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2025, 11:47:32 AM »
I don't know enough about AIs to say whether chat with one is a problem (although I think over time they could end up in some unhealthy spaces for a 15 year old girl).

The big red flag is the secrecy.  A 15 year old girl, however clever, well-educated and well brought up, is vulnerable to the adult world, and an AI (or whatever else might be going on) is definitely part of the adult world.  One of the first things malign actors will do is try to create conditions of secrecy from parents and then use that to take the child away from parental influence and even from parents themselves.  So I worry that you've identified something that is, or could turn into, a safeguarding risk for your daughter.

I don't have a good suggestion as to deal with this, other than to say that keeping open your family lines of communication with your daughter is going to be key.

Best of luck with it. 

lhamo

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Re: Teen Interacting with Talkie.ai
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2025, 12:34:18 PM »
This review site urges caution:

https://www.bark.us/app-reviews/apps/talkie-app-review/

Agree that the secrecy is something to be concerned about.  Have you had conversations with her about risks of online interactions, consent, etc.? 

Sibley

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Re: Teen Interacting with Talkie.ai
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2025, 11:23:49 AM »
Can you see any of these interactions? Snoop on her? I know it's not ideal, but I think a little bit is permissible so you have a better idea of what she's actually getting from this site. Then you can target your response appropriately.

Since you say she struggles with IRL social interaction in general (making friends), then can you get her signed up for activities which will hopefully assist her? Sports, pottery classes, DnD games, whatever her interests are. You can do that regardless of what she's getting from the ai, because it's addressing the bigger picture. And might go a long way to helping her make better choices without you directly intervening in the ai stuff. If she doesn't have time to be on this site then she's not going to be on the site.

GuitarStv

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Re: Teen Interacting with Talkie.ai
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2025, 01:58:17 PM »
It's hard to imagine a way that the situation you're describing healthy.  Try explaining your concerns to her in a sensible and adult way.  Then directly ask so see what she's doing and to see the conversation record.  If she doesn't show/tell you or the answers don't sound healthy, then cut it off.  She's your child, internet access in your home is a privilege.  Having a cell phone is a privilege.

charis

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Re: Teen Interacting with Talkie.ai
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2025, 05:36:47 PM »
This might be harsh, but I'm going to say it anyway because a facepunch might be needed here.  Is your minor child under the impression that they have free rein on their phone/the internet without monitoring?  Hopefully that is not the case but if it is, you have set that expectation.  There is no "snooping" on a minor's internet activity.  It's a responsibility as a parent to make it clear that nothing on the internet is private, for adults and children alike quite frankly, but especially if you are under 18.  We have always impressed upon our children that any phone they have access to before the age of 18 is not "theirs" and it is not private. They understand this and accept it because they have to.  It's the same as using the family PC.  We don't typically check their activity, but they knew that we will if we need to.

That said, I wouldn't assume that that it's inappropriate just because she's being secretive.  Teens are secretive for lots of reasons that are pretty innocuous.
« Last Edit: March 17, 2025, 05:50:54 PM by charis »

Fru-Gal

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Re: Teen Interacting with Talkie.ai
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2025, 05:49:21 PM »
Yeah, somehow you’re going to have to see exactly what’s being talked about. It could be merely sexual which would be the least of my concerns as a parent.

I had to catch my kid being a moron on the phone (like literally snoop in the bedroom and grab the phone when the kid was asleep) and at that age they are such skillful liars that if I hadn’t done it I wouldn’t have known just what was going on and how bad it was. One line that I used to use was that I didn’t want to get a call from the principal that made ME look bad as a parent. Somehow that kind of worked. My kids turned out great and in general they tell me everything BTW.

Also around that age, even though it’s late in the game, you can still try to engineer social contact by having parties (for example, all ages) or picnics, some kind of project, teams, clubs, outdoor skills classes, camping… It really pains me when I see kids today in college neglecting IRL friendships and seeking to have online social relationships with kids at OTHER colleges! The phone can be a lifeline but also a pacifier.
« Last Edit: March 17, 2025, 05:53:11 PM by Fru-Gal »

reeshau

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Re: Teen Interacting with Talkie.ai
« Reply #7 on: May 03, 2025, 09:37:25 AM »

tweezers

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Re: Teen Interacting with Talkie.ai
« Reply #8 on: May 09, 2025, 12:30:04 PM »
Find out what she is talking about.

https://wapo.st/4jGrqaO
https://wapo.st/3YESNJY

Kapyarn

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Re: Teen Interacting with Talkie.ai
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2025, 12:44:18 PM »
If it is at all like Grok or ChatGPT, it overly uses positivity and praise.   "What a great idea"  "That is an intriguing perspective"

They have designed these AI do do this, which is sneaky and corrupt.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!