Do not put private information into a prompt
Children should avoid entering passwords, sign-in codes, home addresses, private school records, medical information, private messages or identifying information about other people unless a parent, teacher or approved service has specifically established that use.
A useful classroom rule is to remove names and unnecessary personal details before asking an AI system for help with an example or draft.
AI can sound certain and still be wrong
Generated answers can contain invented facts, incorrect explanations or sources that do not exist. Fluency is not the same as accuracy.
For important factual claims, children should check a reliable source, textbook, teacher, official website or other independent reference rather than treating the generated answer as proof.
Know when AI assistance becomes schoolwork misconduct
Schools and teachers may allow AI for brainstorming, feedback or explanation while prohibiting it from producing work that a student submits as their own. The rule depends on the task and the school.
Children should ask what is permitted before using AI for assessed work and should be able to explain what parts they created, what assistance they used and what they verified themselves.
Generated images and voices can affect real people
Creating fake images, voices or conversations involving classmates can become harmful even when it starts as a joke. Children should not create deceptive or humiliating content about another person without understanding the consequences and consent involved.
The same verification habits used for deepfakes apply when children encounter AI-generated content elsewhere: ask where it came from and what independent evidence supports it.
A trusted adult should remain part of the safety system
If an AI system produces frightening, sexual, violent, manipulative or otherwise inappropriate material, a child should stop the interaction and tell a trusted adult. They should not be expected to troubleshoot unsafe content alone.
Parents and teachers can periodically review which AI tools are being used, what accounts they require and whether the service is appropriate for the child's age and context.
Keep private information out of prompts, verify important answers, follow school rules, use generated media responsibly and involve a trusted adult when an AI interaction crosses a safety boundary.
Continue with the Cyber Safety Hub, practise the ideas in Ranger Academy, or use the free printable resources at home or in the classroom.