Sara Grimes: Tech Restrictions for Children are More Dangerous for Their Safety

With the recent scandal involving X and Elon Musk allowing users to use Grok AI to undress women and children, this issue is a major concern for parents and carers about how the digital world is shaping up for our kids.

Sarah Grimes, the leading voice in children’s online rights, returns to discuss with me the current regulatory landscape and how it evolved since our last discussion a year ago.

With AI and tech evolving at lightning speed, it has become more apparent that enforcement is often weak, leaving companies to operate in a near free-for-all.

Sara highlights how this lack of oversight allows harmful content, like deepfakes and AI-generated media, to target young users with little consequence.

We discussed how different countries are tackling these challenges in various ways. In the US, states like California are pushing forward with child protection laws, but enforcement is inconsistent. Meanwhile, Europe is leading with privacy-focused regulations, though their effectiveness is still under scrutiny.

The key takeaway? Banning kids from platforms isn’t the answer—it often pushes them to unregulated spaces like the dark web. Instead, Sara highlights that we need responsible regulation that involves kids in creating safe online environments.

By focusing on privacy-by-design and holding platforms accountable, we can work towards a digital future that respects and protects children’s rights.

Join the conversation that calls for positive collaboration and trust-building between parents and children in navigating this precarious digital landscape.