Oxford Calls For Comprehensive Framework To Study AI's Impact On Mental Health Of Youth

Study in UK: Oxford University has called for a structured framework to find out the effect of integrating AI into the digital experiences of children.

Adolescents and children are interacting with AI on a daily basis. To study its impact on the youth's mental health, Oxford University has called for a comprehensive framework. Oxford Internet Institute (OII) at the University of Oxford has advocated for it.

Dr. Karen Mansfield, the lead author and a postdoctoral researcher at OII, stated, "Research on the effects of AI, as well as evidence for policymakers and advice for caregivers, must learn from the issues that have faced social media research. Young people are already adopting new ways of interacting with AI, and without a solid framework for collaboration between stakeholders, evidence-based policy on AI will lag behind, as it did for social media."

Professor Andrew Przybylski, a contributing author and OII Professor of Human Behaviour and Technology, added, "We are calling for a collaborative evidence-based framework that will hold big tech firms accountable in a proactive, incremental, and informative way. Without building on past lessons, in ten years we could be back to square one, viewing the place of AI in much the same way we feel helpless about social media and smartphones. We have to take active steps now so that AI can be safe and beneficial for children and adolescents."  

Oxford University On AI's Impact On Mental Health Of Youth

The recommendation was made after critical appraisal of the current shortcomings in such research. The researchers have emphasized the chances of repeating past mistakes which says that the impact of social media is an isolated causal factor for the mental health of the youth. This approach neglects the various ways in which social media is used affecting mental health and technology.

UK Former PM Joins Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak became a member of the World Leaders Circle and a Distinguished Fellow at Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government.

Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School, said, "We are looking forward to welcoming Rishi Sunak to the Blavatnik School as a member of our World Leaders Circle and a Distinguished Fellow. Bringing together a global network of leaders with such rich experience and insight will strengthen our mission to foster a world that is better led, better served, and better governed. His expertise will shape our work to equip today’s public leaders around the world with the urgent skills they need to tackle evolving global challenges, as well as seizing the opportunities."

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