AI is rapidly becoming a part of students’ lives. The American Psychological Association is urging caution and guidance to protect young people ages 10 to 25 from potential harms while embracing AI’s benefits for learning and development.
In its June 2025 health advisory, “Artificial Intelligence and Adolescent Well-being,” the organization warns that, beyond academics, AI’s growing presence in education, social interactions and health information can shape well-being in powerful and lasting ways. To address these concerns, leaders must ensure that artificial intelligence tools are safe, age-appropriate and supportive of youth development, the report asserts.
That said, the effects of artificial intelligence technologies are complex. “AI is not all good or bad,” the report notes. Considerations of its impact should cover the specific application, design features, data uses to train Al systems and the context of its use.
Benefits and opportunities for students using AI
When used responsibly, AI offers students creative tools to support cognitive growth. It can assist in brainstorming, creating, organizing, summarizing and synthesizing information, and also offer resources and solutions for challenging problems, the report explains.\
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As a result, these capabilities can deepen concept mastery, boost critical thinking and enhance problem-solving. Moreover, students learn even more effectively when they receive guidance on AI from trained educators, says the report.
Risks and harms of AI
When misused or left unchecked, however, those same tools can harm students. Young users are particularly vulnerable to:
- Inaccurate content: AI-generated summaries can contain errors, leading to misinformation.
- Unhealthy reliance: Overdependence on AI can hinder skill development and independent thinking.
- Emotional manipulation: Bots that simulate empathy can confuse adolescents who are still learning emotional boundaries.
- Biased outputs: Training data that lacks diversity can reinforce stereotypes and inequities.
“Strong attachments to Al-generated characters may contribute to struggles with learning social skills and developing emotional connections,” the report warns.
Key recommendations for educators and leaders
To balance opportunity and risk, the American Psychological Association outlines several strategies:
- Teach AI literacy: Integrate AI education into the curriculum to help students understand how it works, its biases and its limitations. Educators should model critical thinking around AI.
- Create age-appropriate safeguards: Platforms must ensure content is developmentally suitable and transparent. Privacy and accuracy are also priorities.
- Limit harmful content exposure: Establish systems to filter, report and review content that may be violent, biased or triggering to vulnerable youth.
- Promote human connection: Encourage real-world relationships to prevent emotional overreliance on AI.
What schools can do to safeguard students’ well-being
Educational leaders are uniquely positioned to help students safely engage with AI by setting clear norms and expectations. Furthermore, they should involve families and equip teachers to help students in this evolving area.
The report encourages more research, better policies and collaboration across departments to help protect students and teach them to use AI safely and responsibly.
