KUCHING: With the year-end school holidays underway, a growing digital trend is quietly pulling children and teenagers into emotionally immersive artificial intelligence (AI) chat and role-play platforms, raising concerns over hidden risks masked as harmless entertainment.
This was brought to attention recently by the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID).
“Lately, platforms or applications such as ‘Ask Drac’ and others simulate novel-style interactions that feel personal, understanding and emotionally engaging, giving young users the illusion of companionship while masking potential harm.
“What may seem to be entertainment can instead form false emotional attachments, normalise unhealthy and manipulative relationships, expose users to implied adult content, and lead to digital emotional dependency,” the department said.
Children and adolescents are still developing emotionally and are particularly susceptible to AI conversations that feel attentive, understanding and constantly present, making it easier for them to form unhealthy attachments.
With this in mind, the CCID urged parents to take an active role in their children’s digital lives during the holiday period by monitoring the applications they use, enabling parental control features, and encouraging open conversations rather than resorting to punishment at home.
“AI should never be allowed to become a child’s ‘secret friend’.
“Not all technology is suitable for every age group,” the department said.
The CCID pointed out that guidance and supervision remain crucial as technology becomes increasingly immersive.
