OpenAI Introduces 18+ Experience for ChatGPT
What? On Tuesday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a post on X that the company’s chatbot, ChatGPT, will soon allow explicit content (“like erotica”) for verified adult users. According to Time, Altman says this will “allow ChatGPT to behave in a more ‘human-like way’ or ‘act like a friend.’”
So What? Even without these expanded features, ChatGPT has a history of being unsafe: The parents of a teenage boy sued OpenAI in August after their son took his own life after ChatGPT helped him “explore suicide methods,” according to Time magazine. Now experts worry that “OpenAI is putting engagement and profit over user experience and safety.”
Now What? Although OpenAI plans to verify the age of users who will have access to this 18+ experience, teens could still find ways to curtail these restrictions. So parents should talk to their kids about their use of the chatbot and consider appropriate restrictions of their own.
Study Says Kids Who Use Social Media Have Worse Reading and Vocabulary Skills
What? Researchers have found that kids and tweens who spend an hour a day on social media score one-to-two points lower on reading and memory tests compared to those who don’t use social media at all. Children who spend three or more hours score up to five points lower.
So What? According to the New York Post, “The study found that the effects were specific to social media,” not just screen time in general. Experts suggest that this is likely due to the fact that social media requires more engagement than, say, watching TV. But they also say the poorer scores could be because tweens are using social media during class or homework time or perhaps even due to sleep deprivation caused by late-night social media use.
Now What? Many schools are taking action to reduce screen time in class. However, experts are also urging parents to join the cause: “Give them an incentive to be less involved with social media and more paying attention to academia by giving them rewards on the weekend.”
Content Shown to Teens on Instagram Won’t Exceed PG-13 Standards
What? Instagram, which is owned by Meta, has announced that it will begin to limit the content seen by teen users (including conversations with artificial intelligence chatbots) to the same PG-13 standard employed by the Motion Picture Association.
So What? According to The New York Times, “PG-13 movies are generally allowed to have some swear words, mild violence and partial nudity, although Meta said it would not recommend content with nudity to teen users.” Instagram is creating panels of thousands of parents to rate material that appears on the app.
Now What? It stands to reason that even with this new policy, different parents will have different reactions to the content deemed “appropriate.” Continue to talk to your kids about what they’re seeing on the app and how it makes them feel, and set appropriate restrictions based on those conversations and what’s best for your family.
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