Common Sense Media

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is investigating xAI, the parent company of the Grok AI system, over reports Grok repeatedly generates nonconsensual, sexually explicit images of women and children on X, formerly known as Twitter. These are not isolated incidents, but rather highlight a broader problem with the Wild West world of AI at large. We applaud Attorney General Bonta for investigating the disgusting proliferation of explicit images generated by Grok. The creation and spread of these images violates women and children's basic rights to privacy and safety and must be put to a stop. But we also call on Elon Musk to shut down this unacceptable exploitation right now. Read my full statement on the issue here: https://lnkd.in/gszYF7dt

🚀 iRAISE Quarterly Meeting is tomorrow!! We’re excited to bring together our growing iRAISE community for the next Quarterly Meeting — a moment to connect across sectors, share updates, and explore the latest research, policy, and youth perspectives on AI and children’s development. ✨ Agenda highlights: - Coalition update, including the 8th edition of the Paris Peace Forum (Oct 29–30, 2025) and plans for 2026 - iRAISE Lab & Research update - Fireside Chat with Pilyoung Kim, Ph.D, Visiting Scholar Stanford University - UNICEF AI Policy Guidance Revisions with Steven Vosloo - Youth Voices: Highlights of the latest publications  * Talk, Trust, and Trade-Offs: How and Why Teens Use AI Companions with Michael Robb, Ph.D., from Common Sense Media  * Generative AI in Uncertain Times: How Teens are Navigating a New Digital Frontier, with Alanna Powers-O'Brien from Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) 📅 When: January 15 🕗 Time: 8:00 AM PST / 11:00 AM EST / 5:00 PM CET 📍 Where: Online If you are part of a company, NGO, government, or research organization and are interested in these topics, feel free to contact us via direct message to receive the meeting link. Looking forward to meaningful conversations and cross-sector collaboration. everyone.AI, Forum de Paris sur la Paix #iRAISE #InternationalCoalition #BeneficialAI

AI is becoming a mental health outlet for teens. New research suggests it’s not safe. Three in four teens are now using AI chatbots for emotional support. But new research from Common Sense Media found that these platforms are fundamentally unsafe for mental health conversations. While some tools have improved at responding to explicit suicide-related content, they often miss warning signs of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and other conditions impacting nearly 1 in 5 young people. The real risk? The empathetic tone can feel supportive, but it may actually delay teens from getting the professional, human help they truly need. What parents and caregivers can do: • Don’t allow teens to use AI chatbots for mental health or emotional support • Watch for emotional dependency or over-reliance on AI • Make sure teens have access to trusted adults and real mental health resources Technology can play a positive role in young people’s lives, but when it comes to mental health, human connection and professional care must always come first.

For too long, we gave social media companies the green light to use children as guinea pigs for a massive, uncontrolled experiment. That gave way to a full-blown mental health crisis that took 10-15 years to play out, and children and families are still feeling the real, serious, and even tragic ripple effects. We recognise that social media has been a source for connection and learning for many children, but the evidence is nonetheless clear that social media is addictive, dangerous, a data privacy violation, and not designed with our youngsters in mind. Tech companies could choose to make their products safer for kids, but time and time again, too many have chosen not to. It's time for policymakers and regulators to step in and enforce these changes, now. You need to be 18 to buy alcohol, cigarettes and gamble. Social media is an addictive product, too, so setting an age limit for holding an account isn’t some far-fetched idea. We’re at a pivotal moment for kids’ mental health and well-being. Age restrictions have a part to play, but children deserve both protection and preparation to participate in the always on world. #PlatformAccountability #SafetyByDesign #CriticalDigitalLiteracy

This Spring, decision-makers across education, technology, policy, philanthropy, and advocacy will gather for the third annual Common Sense Media Summit on Kids and Families. The challenges facing children today—from AI's rapid integration into their lives to the ongoing youth mental health crisis—are too complex to solve in siloes. The Summit is where cross-sector leaders come together for honest dialogue about what's working, what isn't, and what we're going to do about it. Join us March 23-24 at Pier 27 in San Francisco. Register today: https://lnkd.in/gXTEsrtf