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Why you shouldn't share your friends' info with AI.
Your friends' phone numbers, addresses, or photos are not yours to share — even with an AI helper. We protect each other by keeping that info private.
Think of one fact about a friend you used to share online. Ask yourself: did they say it was okay?
When your friend tells you their phone number, address, or a personal story, they're trusting you with it. That trust doesn't change just because you're using AI. If you paste your friend's photo into an AI app, type their address into a chatbot, or share their personal information to get help with a situation — even with good intentions — you've shared private information they didn't agree to share. This is why consent matters: before including someone else's personal information in anything — including AI tools — ask yourself 'Did they say it was okay?' If the answer is no, or you're not sure, don't share it. A good way to think about it: your information is yours to share or not. Your friend's information is theirs to share or not. You manage yours; they manage theirs.
AI chats can save what you type. So never share things that should stay private — even if the AI seems nice.
Make a list of 3 private things you'll never tell an AI. Keep it by your computer.
Here's why "AI and Keeping Private Things Private" matters: Using AI fairly means being honest, kind, and careful. Just like real life! What you should never type into an AI chat — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.
AI is super helpful, but it doesn't need to know your school's name. If you share it, that info could end up where strangers can see it. Keep school stuff private.
Practice saying it out loud: 'I won't share my school name with AI.' Tell a parent your plan!
Chatbots don't need to know where you live. Keep your address private.
Make a list of 3 things you will never tell an AI chatbot. Stick it by your screen.
Chatbots are designed to answer questions and help with tasks — not to know personal things about you. Your home address is one of the most private pieces of information you have. Knowing where you live could help a bad actor find you in real life. A chatbot does not need that information to help you with homework, creative writing, or fun questions.
If a chatbot ever asks for personal location information — like your city, neighborhood, or address — that is a red flag. A helpful AI tool for kids does not need to know where you live. Trust your instincts: if a question from an AI feels too personal, you do not have to answer.
Don't type your friends' names, schools, or secrets into AI chats.
Next chat with AI, swap any real name for 'my friend' or 'my classmate.'
When you type a friend's name, school, or personal problems into a chatbot, you are sharing their information without their permission. They never agreed to that. It does not matter if you are asking for advice about a situation or just mentioning them in a story prompt — their personal information is theirs, not yours to share with an AI system.
A simple rule: before you type anything about a friend into an AI, ask yourself — 'Would my friend be okay with this?' If the answer is anything less than a clear yes, leave their information out. You can describe the situation without naming them or revealing private details.
If a friend tells you a secret, do not type it into AI — that is breaking their trust.
Think of a secret a friend told you. Promise yourself: AI does not need to hear it.
When a friend tells you something personal — maybe about their family, a health issue, or something that happened to them — that information belongs to them. Sharing it with other people breaks their trust. Sharing it with AI breaks their trust and potentially puts it in a database. Even if you think typing it into AI will 'stay between you and the chatbot,' that is not how AI works. The conversation may be logged, reviewed, or used for training. Your friend's private information travels somewhere they did not consent to. Respecting privacy means thinking before you type — asking yourself, 'Is this my information to share?' If the answer is no, leave it out. If you want to ask AI a question about a situation involving a friend, describe it in general terms without names, personal details, or identifying information. Protecting your friends' privacy is a sign of genuine friendship, and it is a skill that matters more as you get older.
15 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-explorers-ethics-safety-AI-and-not-sharing-friend-info
Your friend told you their phone number. Does that mean you can share it with an AI app?
Before you include a friend's personal information in an AI tool, what question should you ask yourself?
What does 'consent' mean when it comes to sharing a friend's information?
Sharing a friend's home address with an AI chatbot is the same as:
You want to paste a photo of your friend into an AI app to ask about a costume idea. What should you do first?
Your friend is having a hard time at home and told you about it in private. You want to ask an AI for advice. What should you do?
Which statement is TRUE about personal information?
Good intentions — like trying to help a friend — change the rule about sharing their personal information without permission. True or false?
What does it mean to 'be the guardian of your friends' information'?
If you're not sure whether your friend would want their information shared, what should you do?
Your friend confided in you that they have a crush on someone at school. You want to ask AI for advice on how to help them. What's the right move?
Why does trust matter when a friend shares information with you?
You asked your friend if it was okay to share their photo with an AI app and they said no. What should you do?
Why is sharing a friend's personal information with AI a privacy issue even if you trust the AI company?
What's the most important thing to remember about your friend's personal information?