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AI Ethics for Students: Dos and Don’ts (with Age Guidelines)

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Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, Bard, Copilot and others are becoming more accessible to students. These tools can be powerful helpers for research, writing, programming, brainstorming and more. With that power comes responsibility. It is essential to understand the ethical considerations, risks and rules when using AI, especially for younger users.

Below you will find ethical dos and don’ts tailored for students, plus recommended age limits (based on current terms of service) for several common AI platforms. Note: platform policies may change over time, always check the latest terms.

Part 1: Ethical Dos and Don’ts for Students Using AI

✅ Dos (Best Practices)

  1. Use AI as an assistant, not a substitute Use it to brainstorm ideas, outline, generate inspiration, or check your own draft, not to write your entire assignment. Always think: Is this my original thought or AI generated

  2. Cite and attribute If you incorporate text or ideas generated by AI, treat them like any external source. Indicate that portions are AI assisted. Many institutions have evolving policies about acknowledging AI use, stay transparent.

  3. Critically evaluate outputs AI tools can make up facts or present inaccuracies. Always cross check with trusted sources such as textbooks, peer reviewed articles or teachers.

  4. Respect privacy and data sensitivity Avoid inputting personal, confidential or sensitive data such as your student ID, private health or financial information. For group work or school assignments, get permission before feeding someone else’s data.

  5. Use appropriate prompts and boundaries Avoid prompts that ask AI to generate offensive, discriminatory or inappropriate content. If the AI suggests something harmful such as self harm, violence or illegal acts, stop and report or reset.

  6. Learn from AI, don’t just copy Analyse how AI answers, look at its logic and use it to build your own understanding. Over time, refine your ability to ask better questions and prompts.

  7. Respect intellectual property Do not ask AI to produce large chunks of copyrighted text verbatim such as entire poems or articles. Use AI generated text as inspiration or draft, then transform or properly cite.

  8. Follow your school and teacher guidelines Some schools ban or limit AI use. Always check your institution’s policy. Even if allowed, some assignments may require original work with no AI involvement.

❌ Don’ts (Common Pitfalls and Ethical Mistakes)

  1. Do not present AI output as 100 percent correct

  2. Do not submit AI written work as your own

  3. Do not bypass age restrictions or terms of service

  4. Do not expose others’ private data

  5. Do not rely solely on AI for critical or high stakes tasks

  6. Do not ignore biases or harmful outputs

  7. Do not overuse AI for trivial tasks

  8. Do not use AI to mislead or manipulate

Part 2: Age Limits and Policies for Popular AI Platforms

Platform or Service

Reported Minimum Age and Conditions

Notes and caveats

ChatGPT (OpenAI)

Must be at least 13 years old. Users between 13 and 18 need parental or guardian permission

Not meant for children under 13

Google Bard or Gemini

Teens 13 plus can use Bard in many regions

In Google Workspace for Education, Bard is disabled by default for accounts under 18

Microsoft Copilot or Bing AI tools

Copilot available for 18 plus, with access extended to 13 plus in some regions

Some restrictions still apply

Character AI

Must be 13 or older. In EU users must be at least 16

Limited age verification

Other generative AI tools such as Perplexity, Grammarly, Canva AI features

Many require being at least 13, some features 18 plus

Depends on region and tool

Part 3: Ethical Considerations for Students

  • Cognitive development: younger students may over trust AI unless guided to question it

  • Digital privacy: minors may accidentally share personal information

  • Access and fairness: unequal access to AI tools can widen educational gaps

  • Academic integrity: some schools treat AI written work as plagiarism

  • Bias and representation: AI can reflect stereotypes, students should be critical

  • Emotional safety: AI responses may sometimes be upsetting

  • Skill development: overuse can reduce practice in writing or problem solving

Closing

AI can be a powerful learning companion but only if used with care and responsibility. For students:

  • Treat AI outputs as drafts or starting points, not final answers

  • Always double check facts and refine in your own words

  • Follow age rules, respect privacy and adhere to school policies

  • If in doubt, ask a teacher before using AI for schoolwork

 
 
 

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