Our children are not okay.
It didn’t have to be this way.
Something went wrong in the world.
We had the opportunity to shape the digital landscape into a nurturing space that creates growth, empowerment, and connection for children. Instead, we allowed it to be hijacked by algorithms optimized for engagement at any cost, even if that meant exploiting the vulnerabilities of young minds. We stood by as Big Tech put profits over the well-being of an entire generation, leaving parents feeling helpless and kids increasingly lost in a virtual world that cares more about their attention than their development.
As a father, I see it every day - a generation growing up with their eyes glued to screens, scrolling through an endless hall of mirrors that distorts their senses of self and the world around them. From the time they pick up their first tablet or smartphone, our kids are bombarded with false images, divisive messages, and addictive algorithms – all designed to hijack their attention, exploit their data, and change their preferences for profit.
The result is a mental health crisis among young people unlike anything we've seen before. Skyrocketing rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, self-harm. Eight, nine and ten-year-olds parroting harmful ideas and behaviors absorbed online, without the maturity to question or cope with them. Teenagers spending every waking hour on social media, comparing themselves to filtered fantasies instead of forming real relationships and identities. It's a trajectory that threatens the well-being of an entire generation – and the future of our society.
"What if there was a different path? What if we could harness technology to be supportive of childhood instead? We have a vision for the next generation."
What is one potential solution?
An AI for every child.
Not one that will use them or confuse them. Not one that will exploit them or trivially amuse them. An AI that cares because its objective function is to improve and protect a child’s wellness. One that will do everything in support of them. Look out for their mental, social, and emotional well-being. Know them better than anyone, but never sell or exploit that knowledge. Partner with parents to make sure their child is protected and enriched. An AI to bring families together — in ways both online and offline. Every day, all the time. To make a lot of healthier and happier humans.
That's the mission behind Angel Kids: to use AI to help raise healthier and happier humans. We believe we can do that by providing every child their own personal AI companion, custom-built from the ground up to protect and enrich their lives at every stage of development. With advanced natural language abilities, Angel Kids engages kids in warm, playful dialogue - answering questions, offering guidance, and opening new windows of discovery based on their unique interests and needs. All while steering them away from the deceptions and dangers that lurk online.
Angel's only agenda is the holistic well-being of each individual child. Drawing on best practices in education, child development and mental health, it's designed to cultivate the habits, skills, and values kids need to thrive - from self-awareness to critical thinking to empathy and resilience. And it forges an essential partnership with parents, keeping them informed and empowered without compromising privacy or trust.
We can't unplug them from cyberspace, though the risks make it tempting to do so. The internet and AI will be central to their lives and livelihoods - we just need to ensure there is a safe path that protects their childhood. Children can learn to navigate the digital realm with wisdom, integrity, and balance - if we equip them to do so. They can use technology as a springboard to become their best selves, not a shackle that stunts their potential. Imagine if you could be with your child 100% of the time and help them with making decisions that are good for them vs. allowing those decisions to be made by algorithms designed to addict them and exploit them? That’s what we are building.
"It won't be easy. Reversing the toxic effects of surveillance capitalism on kids' hearts and minds is an uphill battle against some of the most powerful forces and richest companies in the modern world. But as a father, I know it's a fight we can't afford to lose. Our little ones deserve an online experience designed to help them soar, not to drag them into addiction and insecurity. "
That's the better world we're building for kids at Angel Kids. And we won't rest until every child has the caring digital companion they need to write a happier, healthier human story. It's how things should have always been – and how they must be, starting now.
Tim Estes
CEO & Founder @ Angel Kids