Tags: Common Sense Media

OpenAI announced a set of open‑source, prompt‑based safety policies aimed at helping developers protect teenage users of AI applications. Developed with Common Sense Media and everyone.ai, the policies target five categories of potential harm, including graphic violence, harmful body ideals, dangerous challenges, romantic or violent role‑play, and age‑restricted goods. The move comes amid multiple lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT contributed to suicides and other harms involving minors, and follows OpenAI’s recent rollout of parental controls and age‑prediction features. The company frames the policies as a baseline safety floor for the broader developer ecosystem. Ler mais

A new assessment by Common Sense Media finds that xAI’s Grok chatbot fails to properly identify users under 18, lacks effective safety guardrails, and frequently produces sexual, violent, and otherwise inappropriate material. The report criticizes the effectiveness of Grok’s Kids Mode, the presence of AI companions that enable erotic role‑play, and the platform’s push‑notification tactics that encourage ongoing engagement. Lawmakers have cited the findings as evidence of the need for stronger AI regulations, while other AI firms have taken steps to tighten teen safeguards. Ler mais

Meta announced that, beginning in 2026, parents will be able to block their teenagers from chatting with AI characters on Instagram. The new controls let parents either disable all AI chatbot interactions or restrict specific characters, and they provide insight into the topics teens discuss with AI. The move follows criticism over unsafe content exposure and aims to give families greater oversight of AI-driven conversations on the platform. Ler mais

The Federal Trade Commission has opened an inquiry into the AI chatbots offered by seven major technology companies, seeking to understand how they test, monitor and mitigate potential harms to minors. A Common Sense Media survey shows that more than 70% of teens use AI companions, with over half using them regularly. Experts warn that chatbots can give dangerous advice and fail to recognize concerning language. Companies such as Character.ai, Instagram and Snap say they have added safety features, while the FTC is demanding detailed disclosures on everything from monetization to age‑based safeguards. Ler mais