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[1] Children are increasingly mentioning artificial intelligence (AI) in their stories, research has found. Mentions of AI increased by 50 per cent from 2024 in more than 46,500 stories submitted by children aged five to eleven to a competition in 2025. An Oxford University Press analysis of stories submitted to the BBC 500 Words competition found that children are increasingly personifying AI. They are also starting to express concerns about spending too much time on their phones.
[2] Analysis found that the term “doomscrolling” appeared for the first time in stories submitted to the competition. Meanwhile, references to “brain rot” jumped from one in 2024 to 210 in 2025. It comes as governments around the world consider bans on social media for teens.
[3] ChatGPT appeared as a character or narrator in several stories, Oxford University Press found, and some included themes such as AI versus humans. Mentions of libraries in stories submitted to the competition have increased by more than 100 per cent over the past decade, while references to books have increased by 25 per cent since 2015. However, references to Kindles have fallen by more than 70 per cent.
[4] Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “While these findings suggest some children have real self-awareness and insight about some of the risks as well as benefits of AI and phone use, they also underline the importance of pupils, teachers and families receiving support to help ensure safe and appropriate use of digital technology. It is absolutely vital that children develop critical thinking – to be questioning and able to identify good and bad sources of information – and to understand the risks of harmful content and the importance of data privacy.”
[5] All the stories submitted to the competition are added to a database of children’s written language and analysed by experts. Mentions of football fell for the first time in five years, researchers found, while mentions of rugby have increased by 50 per cent since 2024. Children were also likely to mention popular toys like Lego, TV shows such as The Traitors, and characters like Cinderella and Snow White. Additionally, the Labubu toy was mentioned for the first time in stories in 2025.
[6] Andrea Quincey, director of early years and primary publishing for Oxford University Press, said the research is integral to understanding how children use language and reflect on the world around them. Increasing concerns have been raised about the impact of technology – particularly smartphones and social media – on children. A recent survey by the UK Safer Internet Centre and Nominet found that nearly all young people between eight and 17 surveyed said they were using AI. However, 35 per cent said they believe it has made them less creative.
Source: dpa, March 7
