As smart technology becomes more common in our homes, it’s starting to influence our everyday family life in unexpected ways. Smart AI software and hardware like Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri, or Google Assistant have become familiar household voices by answering questions, playing music, setting alarms, or even helping with homework. For most adults, these AI-powered assistants are helpful, convenient, and sometimes also entertaining.
But for toddlers, who are still figuring out how the world works, these mysterious voices from a speaker can be scarier than entertaining. Unlike adults, young children are used to associating voices with visible people. When a device suddenly talks in a robotic tone without any face or body, it can be both confusing and scary.Recently, a new trend has taken off on social media, where short videos of toddlers getting frightened by voice assistants have gone viral.
Toddlers terrified by AI voices
One of the most viral Reels on Instagram of this trend was posted by creator Kyle Frisbey, known as @nightgod333. The video shows a series of toddlers reacting with confusion, fear, and even sobbing when smart assistants suddenly speak out loud. Some kids jump in shock, others start crying, while parents, who are usually off-camera can be heard laughing.In the caption, Kyle raises a curious point: “Are we missing something?” He suggests that it may not just be the voice, but possibly deeper, like “some frequency changes” that might be triggering this strong reaction in young children.
Social media reacts
While the video gained thousands of views and shares, the internet wasn’t entirely happy. According to comments under the post, many parents expressed discomfort about sharing such private and emotional moments online just for likes. One user wrote, “This feels wrong — laughing while your kid is clearly scared isn’t funny.” Others, however, found humor in the innocence of the reactions.On some parenting pages like Reddit and Quora, many moms and dads shared some reactions. Some said their toddlers were scared by the “mechanical tone” of the assistants, especially when giving reminders or answering questions. Others shared that the fear seemed to fade as their children got older and began to understand that the device was just a machine.With smart speakers becoming a common part of modern households, moments like these are likely to happen. While they can make for funny videos, it’s also a reminder that children experience technology differently than adults do.