Parents and Guardians,
We are writing to share two recent articles that highlight important concerns related to how emerging technologies, including smartphones and artificial intelligence (AI), are increasingly impacting children. We believe it is important for families to be aware of these issues, and we want to partner with you to help guide our students safely in an evolving digital world.
Why We’re Sharing This Information
- The first article, from PBS, discusses how AI-generated deepfakes, manipulated images and videos, are being used to create explicit content involving minors. This represents a rapidly growing online threat with serious and real-world consequences for students.
The second article, from PEOPLE Magazine, summarizes recent research indicating that children who receive smartphones before age 12 may face higher risks of depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep compared to their peers.
Why This Matters for Our Students
AI tools are now widely accessible and increasingly realistic. Deepfakes are no longer a distant concern; they pose real risks to students’ privacy, safety, and emotional well-being. Equally important, many young people do not realize that creating or sharing deepfake content, even as a joke or prank, can result in severe, life-altering legal consequences.
Because of these concerns, we plan to speak with students directly in age-appropriate ways:
- Elementary students will not receive instruction about deepfakes specifically. Instead, instruction will continue to focus on foundational digital citizenship skills, including being kind online, not sharing images, protecting personal information, and telling a trusted adult if something feels wrong.
- Middle and high school students will receive more specific guidance appropriate to their maturity level, including education about the serious legal and personal consequences of creating or sharing harmful digital content.
Our goal is twofold: to protect students from becoming victims and to prevent any student from making a devastating mistake due to curiosity or peer pressure.
What We’re Doing - and How We Hope to Partner With You
- The district will continue educating students on digital safety and responsible technology use.
- We encourage families to have ongoing conversations at home about smartphone use, online behavior, and the importance of thinking carefully before creating or sharing digital content.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at any time. We are here to support you and your students.
Article Links
- PBS: Article on AI Deepfakes
- PEOPLE Magazine: Article on Smartphone Risks for Children
We are sharing this information not to alarm, but to inform - and to ensure our students are prepared and protected in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students safe, responsible, and supported.
Sincerely,
Kimberly School District