Evidence Base

Research & Evidence

The peer-reviewed research and regulatory evidence behind AUREN's guidance.

Anthropomorphization of AI by Children: Developmental Analysis

Stanford / Dietz et al., 2023

Research on how children at different developmental stages attribute consciousness and emotion to AI systems.

AI Chatbot Preference Among Vulnerable Adolescents

Cambridge / Kurian, 2024

26% of vulnerable teens prefer AI chatbots to human support — implications for child safety and mental health services.

Brain Connectivity and AI Assistance

MIT Media Lab, 2025

Neural pathway changes when children rely on AI for problem-solving — evidence for cognitive dependency.

Algorithmic Harm to Teenagers on Social Media

Amnesty International, 2023

How social media algorithms push harmful mental health content to teenage accounts within minutes of creation.

Children's Code Impact Assessment: Platform Compliance

ICO, 2024

Review of platform compliance with the 15 standards of the Age Appropriate Design Code, three years after implementation.

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