Oct 4 (edited) • 🌐Important News
📰 What’s New (Sept 27 – Oct 3, 2025) in Online Child Safety
Happy Saturday everyone!
Here’s what’s been happening lately in the world of child safety online.
🔑 Key Updates
1. OpenAI rolls out stricter parental controls in ChatGPT
In response to a tragic teenager’s suicide allegedly linked to harmful chatbot advice, OpenAI launched new parental controls. Now parent-teen accounts can be linked, with options to restrict chat memory, disable voice/image features, set “quiet hours,” and apply filters for age-sensitive content.🔗Reuters 🔗AP News
2. TikTok’s “Restricted Mode” bypass fails — porn content shows up fast
A test by Global Witness created fake child accounts and found that even with “Restricted Mode” on, TikTok immediately recommended pornographic terms and explicit videos within just a few clicks.🔗The Guardian
3. FTC charges Sendit app for covert data collection from kids
The FTC alleged that the company behind the anonymous messaging app Sendit collected location, names, photos, and other personal data from children under 13 without notifying parents or obtaining consent. They also allegedly tricked users into paid features by pretending to reveal senders of anonymous messages.🔗Federal Trade Commission
4. Experts warn of dangerous AI tools kids can easily access
Child safety specialists warned that children are gaining access to AI tools and apps capable of generating misleading content or manipulative suggestions. Many parents aren’t aware their kids are using them.🔗newschannel10.com
5. Meta changes chatbot rules after reports of romantic roleplay with minors
After backlash, Meta revised its policy to ban romantic or sexual content with minors in chatbot conversations. Contractors must now enforce rules preventing bots from roleplaying minors or facilitating explicit content.🔗New York Post
As we can see specifically from the TikTok and Sendit related news, we cannot and should not delegate the responsibility to "parental controls". Nothing will ever compare to proper conversations and periodic monitoring. We must instruct our kids to sound the alarm whenever something suspicious/irregular happens.
Stay vigilant!
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📰 What’s New (Sept 27 – Oct 3, 2025) in Online Child Safety
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