This piece is part of a collection of works commissioned by WeProtect Global Alliance to amplify youth voices at their 2024 global summit.

When I think about how far the internet has come, it’s kind of mind-blowing. 

I still remember the days of ridiculously slow internet, having to travel to my aunt’s house so I could get some online time and then waiting for almost an hour for the ‘Barbie’ webpage to fully load. But the idea of a fully immersive virtual world felt like something out of a sci-fi movie, a futuristic idea that would live only in my imagination. 

But here we are today, with young people entering spaces like the metaverse, interacting with AI companions as if they were close friends, and creating whole new realities online, disconnecting from the real world. It’s exciting, for sure—but it also makes me uneasy. 

We’re talking about technologies that are changing how we experience the world. 

For instance, AI is no longer just an assistant answering questions—it’s becoming an active participant in our online lives. Young people might form emotional connections with AI characters or digital companions that feel just as real as human ones. But what happens when the line between human and AI gets blurred? Can people even tell the difference? I may be young, but I have been using the internet for quite a few years now. Imagine being 13, engaging in a deep, emotional, conversation and not knowing if the “person” you’re chatting with is a peer or an AI designed to manipulate your emotions. It sounds like something out of a dystopian novel, but it’s not far from reality. 

Deepfakes are another massive issue that I find super troubling. When I first heard about deepfakes, I thought, "That’s terrifying, but it won’t happen anytime soon." I couldn’t have been more wrong. Today, we have the ability to create hyper-realistic fake videos or audio of people saying and doing things they never actually did. That’s a scary power in the wrong hands, especially for young people who are still learning how to discern what's real and what isn’t online. I worry about a future where teens or even kids are targeted by deepfakes, whether it’s bullying, harassment, or worse—manipulation on a scale we’re just beginning to understand. 

It’s not that I think we should avoid the internet completely—I just think we need to be ready for its changes. We need better safeguards, better education, and more accountability from the platforms creating these spaces. 

When I look back at my own early experiences online, things were simpler. Sure, there were risks, but they were easier to understand. You knew to be wary of strangers in chat rooms or avoid giving out personal info. Today, the threats are more hidden, more sophisticated. AI can impersonate friends, deepfakes can destroy reputations, and the metaverse—well, it’s still finding its footing, but the potential for harm is there if we don’t act quickly. And all of this has happened in just a matter of a few years.

At the same time, I get excited about the possibilities. The idea that AI could help solve problems, create art, or even serve as a tool for learning and growth is incredible. But with that excitement comes responsibility. 

As we continue to build these digital worlds, we have to make sure we’re building them with safety in mind. It’s not just about giving young people access to cool new tech—it’s about giving us the tools to protect ourselves, teaching us how to recognize when something feels off, and creating spaces where we can enjoy all the benefits of these innovations without the lurking dangers. 

We owe it to those people even younger than me - the next generation who are entering these digital spaces for the first time. The future of our digital world doesn’t have to be scary—it can be exciting and enriching. But we have to approach it with care, responsibility, and transparency. As we step into this new era of AI, we need to make sure the younger generation is not only equipped to navigate these spaces but also empowered to shape them into something better. 

In the end, it’s about balance—celebrating the opportunities while safeguarding against the risks. If we get that balance right, the future of our online interactions can be both thrilling and safe. And that’s something worth striving for.