Common Sense Media, OpenAI Join Forces on Strongest Youth AI Safety Measure in U.S.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 9, 2026—Common Sense Media and OpenAI today announced their support for the Parents & Kids Safe AI Act, the most comprehensive youth AI safety effort in the nation. Authored by Common Sense Media, the measure consolidates two competing ballot initiatives into a single strong proposal that requires companies to use age assurance technology to protect children, prevent manipulation through emotional dependency or engaging in simulated romantic relationships, give parents control over their children's AI use, prohibit child-targeted advertising, and hold AI companies accountable through independent safety audits and enforcement by the California attorney general.

"We wrote this initiative to protect kids, and we welcome OpenAI's full support," said Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer. "Rather than confuse voters with competing measures, we're working together to enact strong protections for kids, teens, and families. This is the strongest measure of its kind in the United States. At this pivotal moment for AI, we can't make the same mistake we did with social media, when companies used our kids as guinea pigs and helped fuel a youth mental health crisis in the U.S. and around the world. Kids and teens need AI guardrails now. That's why we will pursue every avenue, from the legislature to the ballot."

The Parents & Kids Safe AI Act covers AI chatbots and systems that simulate conversation, such as ChatGPT.

It imposes strict limitations on minors' use of AI companion chatbots, which are not safe for anyone under 18. Nearly three in four teens have used AI companion chatbots, and children have taken their own lives after turning to AI for companionship.

The proven, well-documented risks that unsafe AI poses for children demand urgent action. The Parents & Kids Safe AI Act will:

• Require age assurance to distinguish kids from adults and ensure that child-protective settings are in place for users under 18;
• Prohibit child-targeted advertising and the sale or sharing of kids' and teens' data without parental consent;
• Require safeguards to protect kids and teens from AI generation and promotion of self-harm, eating disorders, violence, and sexually explicit acts.
• Prevent AI systems from manipulating kids by creating emotional dependence, simulating romantic relationships, or making child users think they're talking to a human;
• Require AI systems to provide easy-to-use parental controls so parents can monitor and limit their kids' AI use and receive parental alerts if their kids show signs of self-harm;
• Require AI systems to undergo independent audits to identify child safety risks and report them to the California attorney general;
• Require AI companies to conduct annual risk assessments to identify and document new and existing child safety risks, including the likelihood of severe harm; and
• Hold AI companies accountable for protecting children through California Attorney General investigations and financial penalties.

Common Sense Media will use every path available to protect kids on AI platforms, by quick action in the legislature or by the voters in November.

About Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users worldwide and 1.4 million educators every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.