Designing for children’s autonomy and agency in the age of artificial intelligence

Journal article : Review

AI systems are increasingly pervasive in children’s digital lives, yet their values, rights, and best interests are often overlooked or misrepresented in the design of digital technologies that shape their childhood. In this work, we argue that children’s agency must be a central consideration when designing AI systems for children. Without this, we risk creating a digital society that diminishes their digital resilience, their opportunities to be treated fairly and with respect, and their ability to grow and make choices. We examine potential risks posed by AI for children, how designing for agency relates to broader ethical design concerns, and identify key gaps in current child-centered design practices, particularly in accounting for children’s relationships with others and with technology. We highlight the importance of prioritizing agency in AI systems for children and the need to situate design within children’s social contexts so that we are not only fostering their self-regulation but also their resilience and abilities to navigate complex relationships with AI. We call for immediate action by policymakers, innovators, and researchers to rethink the role of designing for children’s agency in AI systems for children of all ages.

Authors: Zhao, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: IEEE
• Journal: IEEE Technology and Society Magazine
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 34-40
• Publication date: 2026-03-31
• DOI: 10.1109/mts.2026.3667432
• EISSN: 1937-416X
• ISSN: 0278-0097
• Language: English
• Subtype: Review