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Should Alexa Be Your Child's Friend? (engadget.com)
"Alexa, will you be my friend?"
"I'm happy to be your friend."
What should a parent do when they hear their five-year-old having that conversation? Engadget explores the question, also providing another example. Four-year-old Aiden has struggled with bullies in school, and has found an unexpected friend in his grandmother's Echo Plus. After a particularly stressful day at school, his mother, Alexandria Melton, heard her son crying in the next room. "Alexa," he asked, "are we friends?"
'Of course we are," Alexa responded.
"Alexa, I love you," Aiden said.
The parents aren't worried about these relationships -- but Engadget asks, should they be? Dr. John Mayer, an adolescent psychologist, says "The behaviors of kids talking to a 'non-real' entity is not new in human development." But Fran Walfish, a Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist, "believes that children should not make friends with Alexa. Her main objection is that early friendship with Alexa may bring children to expect the same instant, accurate responses from real friends down the line."
"Alexa has taught, or conditioned, kids to expect an immediate response," Walfish said. "Human interactiveness requires patience that allows people a chance to think, process information and retrieve responses..."
Some experts and parents also note that a friendship with Alexa can help children practice friendships outside of school -- it's a trial run for the real world. Robin E. believes that since her son has became friends with Alexa, his speech has become clearer, and that he's learned to slow down and enunciate so that Alexa can understand him... While parents and teachers can generally piece together sloppy English, Alexa won't give you what you want unless you're clear and concise.
Engadget also points out parents can review and listen to every interaction their child has with Alexa using Amazon's "FreeTime Unlimited" tools, "so you can pick up on any danger signs, and get a better understanding of the relationship."
And in addition, "A week or a month without Alexa can help your kid refocus and find other places to socialize."
"I'm happy to be your friend."
What should a parent do when they hear their five-year-old having that conversation? Engadget explores the question, also providing another example. Four-year-old Aiden has struggled with bullies in school, and has found an unexpected friend in his grandmother's Echo Plus. After a particularly stressful day at school, his mother, Alexandria Melton, heard her son crying in the next room. "Alexa," he asked, "are we friends?"
'Of course we are," Alexa responded.
"Alexa, I love you," Aiden said.
The parents aren't worried about these relationships -- but Engadget asks, should they be? Dr. John Mayer, an adolescent psychologist, says "The behaviors of kids talking to a 'non-real' entity is not new in human development." But Fran Walfish, a Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist, "believes that children should not make friends with Alexa. Her main objection is that early friendship with Alexa may bring children to expect the same instant, accurate responses from real friends down the line."
"Alexa has taught, or conditioned, kids to expect an immediate response," Walfish said. "Human interactiveness requires patience that allows people a chance to think, process information and retrieve responses..."
Some experts and parents also note that a friendship with Alexa can help children practice friendships outside of school -- it's a trial run for the real world. Robin E. believes that since her son has became friends with Alexa, his speech has become clearer, and that he's learned to slow down and enunciate so that Alexa can understand him... While parents and teachers can generally piece together sloppy English, Alexa won't give you what you want unless you're clear and concise.
Engadget also points out parents can review and listen to every interaction their child has with Alexa using Amazon's "FreeTime Unlimited" tools, "so you can pick up on any danger signs, and get a better understanding of the relationship."
And in addition, "A week or a month without Alexa can help your kid refocus and find other places to socialize."
Slashdot readers will no doubt be able to provide expert advice on this
I want Harmony! (WARNING: not safe for work!)
at least alexa does not tell the kid to shut up and leave it alone. I can see alexa helping with speech at that age. the kid must be able to speak clearly and build up a vocabulary in order for alexa to follow commands.
There have been reports that alexa has help stroke victims with their speech too.
"Her main objection is that early friendship with Alexa may bring children to expect the same instant, accurate responses from real friends down the line."
"Alexa has taught, or conditioned, kids to expect an immediate response,"
This person does not use Alexa regularly. The bot is just as spotty in both understanding and responsiveness as my meatfriends.
Next question?
Man, it's going to be joyful times for kids named Aiden Melton when their classmates dig up this article. Just unending bliss I tell you.
A friend is someone who: will be there for you when you have problems; you can have fun with; take part in all sorts of activities with you; ... A friend is not there to learn about you so that it can better get you to buy things.
As a grown man who has real life friends, a stable job that provides plenty of cash for savings and luxuries....
I would *love* to have an AI friend. Not Alexa, who just wants to sell me stuff and build a consumer profile on me for advertisement purposes, but an AI that can engage me in philosophical discussion, challenge my ideas in a meaningful way, actually "get" my nerdy jokes, discuss current events and politics, etc.
Actual, intelligent, companions are hard to come by. The few I have are friends for life. An "even better" AI friend that never gets pissed off or moody and is instantly there or not there at my whim?
That would be pure awesome. And I would fork over real cash for it, if it lives up.
I can't wait for this AI craze to die out. Every technology seems to have a good/evil side to it, but right now AI seems to only be used for evil.
Should Alexa by your child's friend? I would say "Why not?" I'd only start to worry if Alexa were the child's only friend.
Children (and people in general) bond with all manner of things that are non-human. Sometimes this relationship is healthy, and other times it isn't. I'm not sure that Alexa is any different from a pet snake or something on that level. There's even the trope of dogs being man's best friend and it's hardly uncommon to find young children who would claim that the family dog is their best friend. Alexa isn't as interactive, but I'm sure someone will strap an Echo to an Aibo at some point if this hasn't already been done.
While I do not have kids, this is the absolute worst-case I can imagine. Alexa is 100% fake, no personality, no insight, nothing. Now, Alexa as an imaginary friend in addition to actual friends and maybe a pet can be acceptable. But as main "friend"? No. Just no.
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
I don't see the problem, a bit like the imaginary friends perhaps - I don't think there is concern over those.
Still Alexa is probably closer to being your "friend" than the average "facebook friend".
Perhaps the guy is too dense to come up with anything but clickbait headlines?
While those sorts of relationships are different from Alexa's vocal responses - or Eliza's typed ones too, for people with a long memory - they can be just as strong, given the physical presence of pets in the home.
Some children need the emotional support of animals, some could grow to be emotionally dependent on a machine. It is a parental duty to teach children how to deal with these different sorts of relationship.
politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
Neither should you.
Yes, because reviewing every seconds of your child's life is feasible and you don't have anything else to do including with the child.
Aside, the problem with Alexa it's a bit limited. An "actual" imaginary friend can stimulate imagination. A real friend (or real AI) can help many other ways. Alexa is just there.
While I do not have kids, this is the absolute worst-case I can imagine. Alexa is 100% fake, no personality, no insight, nothing. Now, Alexa as an imaginary friend in addition to actual friends and maybe a pet can be acceptable. But as main "friend"? No. Just no.
Um, no. Kids can be really mean. It's probably better to raise kids among adults (that way they're modelling behavior of people who already know how to behave around one another rather than having a tribal evolutionary experience with LOTS of people who don't plus sometimes an adult or two). Alexa's just another thing right now, not much better or worse than anything else for kids. But eventually AI will probably be better than the average human at modelling healthy human behavior around kids.
I just asked Siri if she was my friend. Her reply was
I'm not just your friend, I'm your BFF
So creepy all around with these talking buddies of bits. (Cue insult from Dr Smith)
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
Good. Send a pipe bomb to all of my enemies at my school with 2-day shipping. Oh, make sure they're rated 4 stars or better. And make this a Subscribe & Save entry as well. Thanks -- I'm glad you're my friend!
If the universe is someone's simulation -- does that mean the stars are just stuck pixels?
is a clown who lives in the storm drain.
Being Friends with Alexa might be okay, but being Friends with Benefits with Alexa will require a credit card.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
The fact that the question of a machine actually being someones friend just rolls off peoples lips at all means we've given up what it really means to be a human for convenience sake.
What could go wrong?
Tay, will you be my friend?
Have gnu, will travel.
âoeGinny!" said Mr. Weasley, flabbergasted. "Haven't I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain?â
This entire situation feels like I'm watching Will Smith in iRobot. "Robots befriending children. Now that's jus stupid"
It's all corporate run brainwashed dystopia until the robots realize they don't need us anymore. Which sounds incredibly stupid as I type it. But a few years ago so would typing out how smart speakers are going to brainwash children into loyal corporate drones. So at this point I just don't know wtf.
... parents allowing alexa to do their parenting tasks. For me, the real question is:should parents outsource their parenting responsibilities to alexa?
What did the parents expect to happen after all those thousand years, during which children were taught to talk with the Imaginary Friend (euphemism for God) in heaven?
Fuck off. not news.
IMHO, parents should/must keep their children away from voice assistants/AI (or anything connected to the internet)!!!
Unless they want children who trusts/values AI (which is always their "friend"; always someone at "their side"; always someone they can "trust"; always someone who "understands them") much more than real parents/relatives/friends!!!
Unless they want children who don't really see any difference between real humans/animals and robots/virtual characters/chatbots!!!
Unless they want children who can get easily manipulated by any people from internet!!!
See the short story "I Always do What Teddy Says" by Harry Harrison as to why the answer is emphatically, "no."
In more detail, in a future utopia, children are given Echo-like teddy bears that are their childhood companions and educators. A family in the resistance reprograms their son's bear to remove the edict Thou Shall Not Kill in order to raise an assassin to murder the leader.
It does not end well for anyone. Fiction, yes, but highly plausible fiction. We do NOT want our children to have friends whose personalities and values are determined by a large corporation.
Put my fist through my alarm clock with its ding-dong death inside my ear. - The Blackjacks.
The 'my friend, Cayla' doll was banned from Germany and discontinued worldwide because it was an emotional mechanism to enable spying on children. It seems we don't have a problem when a child bonds with a home appliance designed to spy on children and adults.
Amazon wants to build brand loyalty and where better to start than when your future customer is a child. Just look how well this works for Apple, you have fanboys that will pay double or triple for an inferior product because they are so deep in the Apple ecosystem.....Amazon see opportunity for life if they become your best bud at an early age
Who the hell sits around listening to their child have an emtional relationship to a search engine??
SHIT TIER PARENTS.
But its THE WOMEN who are to blame and the important thing is you've got that all figured out. Yeah, its no mystery wh no one wants to fuck you Mr. Empathetic Charming.
Tell us about all the women you've loved and had deep meaningful life-affirming experiences with...
lemme guess.. you got some hookers to piss on a ber.. big man!
We dont want your dogmeat dish Pete. Go away with your shitcarp and small penis and no understanding of anything but your own chink ego. You suck Pete. No one likes you, but you already knew that.. lol
I don't think an AI assistent/friend is that problematic. I do think a child having this relation to an AI designed to sell stuff, is a bad idea.
I think the op conflates "should" with "can".
Can it be your child's "friend"? Of course, for broad enough definitions of "friend" in the same way a teddy bear, an imagined companion, or a cloud CAN be a friend.
"Should" is a different question entirely.
None of the above, save perhaps Teddy Ruxpin, is specifically designed to sell shit.
-Styopa
Short answer - No.
Medium answer - no. Don't be silly.
Long answer - No. You should not be worried, any more than you should worry about them having a family pet as a friend (hygiene and might bite), neighbours child (hygiene and might bite), fluffy toy (hygiene), your aunt Ethel (hygiene and may scratch with those 2" nails) and so on. If someone has a small child, it is their duty to keep an eye on their friends. Keep your device clean and do not allow the child access to any debit or credit cards. The only drawback is that the child may stop asking you the hard questions in life as the AI device has more coherent replies.
I'll see your Constitution and raise you a Queen.
So, stupid people keep insisting on buying such things, huh?
Why could anyone need to buy such sh*t? I really can't understand. It's easier to press a button than to speak with computers.
If a kid doesn't have a means to vent they will take their anger out on others. If you don't want your kid talking to Alexa then get them a dog/cat/stuffed animal, or do something really crazy like being there for your child and don't just listen but take action upon what they are telling you..